Egg Shortage Amid Bird Flu Outbreak Sparks Interest in Plant-Based Alternatives

Primarily driven by the H5N1 avian flu, the United States is currently grappling with an unprecedented egg shortage, leading to soaring prices and empty shelves in many grocery stores.

H5N1 avian flu has currently killed more than 130 million farmed birds in the United States, from egg-laying hens to ducks on Long Island and chickens in live markets, while also killing several wild and companion animals in its wake. According to Vox, more than 21 million hens exploited by the egg industry have been killed in the United States in the past month alone—and the drastic reduction in the hen population has disrupted the egg supply chain, causing prices to skyrocket and availability to plummet.

As concern about the spread of bird flu—though it is not transferred through eggs—increased in tandem with the price of chicken eggs, many have been opting to purchase plant-based alternatives. JUST, a plant-based foods company famous for its JUST Egg, has reported unprecedented growth amidst the egg shortage.

In some regions, JUST’s vegan egg alternatives are now more affordable than chicken eggs and sometimes, due to supply chain issues, are the only egg products available on store shelves. This trend signifies a pivotal moment for the plant-based industry, demonstrating its capacity to meet consumer needs during supply chain disruptions.

According to JUST’s CEO, 56 percent of shoppers have returned to buy more of JUST Egg, and January 2025 sales have grown five times last year’s numbers.

While plant-based alternatives have seen an amazing increase in sales, some states including Nevada have temporarily suspended their commitment to cage-free egg standards, putting animals back in horrific battery cages that World Animal Protection, alongside many other animal protection organizations, have fought so hard to ban. Nevada’s governor, Joe Lombardo, has said he wants to repeal cage-free standards completely.

Factory farms are breeding grounds for diseases and oftentimes allow viruses to mutate as animals are packed in close quarters. The H5N1 bird flu, for instance, was first identified in domestic waterfowl in China, mutated into several different strains, and has spread throughout the globe by ways of migratory birds. The first case of the current strain of H5N1 had been detected in the United States agriculture industry—both in commercial and backyard flocks—infecting animals in 2022.

In order to protect animals and our global public health, we have to remove our support of the systems that threaten them with harm: including factory farms. We can do that by urging our legislators to ensure factory farms are held accountable for disease outbreaks.

As consumers, our choices wield significant power. Embracing plant-based egg alternatives not only addresses immediate supply issues but also promotes a more sustainable and ethical food system. By eliminating our reliance on animal agriculture, we can mitigate the risk of future pandemics and contribute to a more animal-friendly society. 

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