Latest news with #Flocco
Yahoo
12-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Grocery stores limit egg purchases, thefts increase as bird flu spreads across US
As bird flu continues to spread across the U.S., stores around the country are reporting a shortage of eggs amid soaring prices, high demand and supply limits. More than 150 million poultry birds have been killed across all 50 states in an attempt to combat bird flu since 2022, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The number of birds affected by the virus has been rising in recent months, with roughly 7 million affected in November, 18 million in December and 23 million in January, according to the latest figures from the USDA. MORE: Here's why eggs might not be on store shelves right now Over the last 30 days, 150 flocks were confirmed to test positive for bird flu, according to the USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. Once a bird is infected, the only way to stop the virus from spreading further is to depopulate or cull the entire flock. It can take time for a flock to repopulate to lay eggs, affecting their price. The Consumer Price Index, published Wednesday by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, showed prices were 3% higher in January compared to a year ago. Prices for eggs increased 15.2% -- the largest increase in egg prices since June 2015, according to the bureau. As grocery stores and supermarkets limit the number of cartons of eggs that can be purchased, some people have resorted to stealing in order to get their hands on eggs. Chains across the country have enforced limits on how many eggs customers can buy due to the high demand and shrinking supply. "Due to ongoing issues with the supply of eggs, we are currently limiting egg purchases to one dozen per customer, per day, in all Trader Joe's stores across the country," a representative for Trader Joe's confirmed to "Good Morning America" on Monday. Other retailers, including Sprouts Farmers Market and Costco, have also implemented purchase limits on fresh eggs. Photos taken at Costco showed the warehouse giant limiting egg purchases to three per member. This week, Lidl US announced it would also limit egg purchases to two per customer across all its stores. MORE: Waffle House adds egg surcharge to menu amid bird flu shortage "The following egg brands sold at Lidl US stores are currently limited to 2 per customer to ensure fair distribution: Green Valley, Simpson's Eggs, and Puglisi's Farm," a Lidl US spokesperson said. "Specialty egg brands, including cage free, free range and organic, do not have limitations at this time at Lidl US." Despite concerns about the safety of eggs available in stores, experts say it's highly unlikely to contract bird flu from commercially sold eggs. Earlier this month, 100,000 organic eggs worth an estimated $40,000 were stolen from a facility in Green Castle, Pennsylvania. Tom Flocco, CEO of Pete and Gerry's Eggs, told "Good Morning America" in an exclusive interview last week that the company was going to boost security. "I've worked in other industries before where things get stolen from factories," Flocco said. "It happens. It's terrible. I'm not happy about it, but it does happen. It could happen once; it could happen again. We are putting additional measures in place." Additionally, at Luna Park Café in Seattle, hundreds of dollars worth of eggs and other breakfast foods were stolen, according to the Seattle Police Department. In the early morning hours on Feb. 5, two male suspects were caught on surveillance video entering a refrigerated shed at the restaurant, police said. The men stole 540 eggs worth $387, as well as bacon, ground beef, blueberries and liquid egg products, the SPD said. A café employee said they saw one of the suspects return to the property, but he got back in the van and fled when he realized he'd been spotted, police said. ABC News' Youri Benadjaoud, Kelly McCarthy, Joshua Richardson and Zunaira Zaki contributed to this report. Grocery stores limit egg purchases, thefts increase as bird flu spreads across US originally appeared on
Yahoo
07-02-2025
- Yahoo
After 100,000 eggs stolen, CEO says company will crack down on security
The CEO of Pete and Gerry's Eggs is speaking out after 100,000 eggs mysteriously disappeared from one of its facilities in Greencastle, Pennsylvania, last weekend. In an exclusive interview with "Good Morning America," Tom Flocco said the egg firm, which contracts with over 300 farms across the country, is going to boost security measures after 8,000 cartons — worth $40,000 — were stolen from the back of a distribution trailer at approximately 8:40 p.m. on Feb. 2. "I've worked in other industries before where things get stolen from factories," Flocco told "GMA's" Elizabeth Schulze. "It happens. It's terrible. I'm not happy about it, but it does happen." To ensure this does not occur again, Flocco said the company will place additional security on the ground, install better lighting and include extra cameras throughout its facilities. "It could happen once, it could happen again," Flocco said. "We are putting additional measures in place." Police are still scrambling to find a suspect and closely examining video surveillance. If the public knows of any leads, officials urge people to contact Pennsylvania State Police Chambersburg. "We are working with local authorities in Pennsylvania and we're giving them our full cooperation," Flocco said. "We'll let you know when we learn more." MORE: Here's why eggs might not be on store shelves right now Flocco said the thieves might face one obstacle after this unusual heist: The eggs need to stay refrigerated as they are transported, since they can spoil at room temperature. "They're transported in a refrigerated truck, they're brought into a refrigerated warehouse, kept there until they're ready to be processed, washed, cooled and kept cold until we eat them," Flocco said. This case comes amid a soaring amount of bird flu infections occurring across the United States, which is also causing an egg shortage. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, 142 flocks were confirmed to test positive for bird flu, also known as avian influenza, in the last 30 days. When a bird becomes infected with the virus, the animal needs to be culled and the eggs need to be destroyed. With more farms experiencing bird flu outbreaks, the USDA predicted at the end of January that egg prices will rise up to 20%. Restaurants like the Waffle House have implemented a surcharge of 50 cents for egg items on their menu due to the shortage, the company announced on Monday. Flocco said Pete and Gerry's Eggs will continue to remain at the same price of about $7 a dozen, despite the recent heist. "We're finding the consumer interest for our product is greater than it's ever been and we only expect it to continue," Flocco said. 'We are charging the same price to our retail partners today as we did a year ago.' After 100,000 eggs stolen, CEO says company will crack down on security originally appeared on
