Shortage Of Eggs

[ChrisC]

I’ll confess to being an egg snob, for want of a better expression! If I buy them in the supermarket I get the more “exotic” ones as they are actually nicer. Cream Legbar eggs are one of my favourites, poached and served on toasted sourdough with a splash of Tabasco sauce.

I rarely buy more than a dozen eggs each month and so don’t mind paying a little more for better quality eggs. Living in a rural area I’m fortunate to usually be able to buy free range eggs on sale from stalls outside houses from people who just keep a few chickens and sell any surplus eggs to passers by. Often in a box of 6 there will be a real mixture of sizes and colours. Surprisingly these extremely fresh eggs sold by these very small producers can be very reasonably priced and often cheaper than buying standard shop eggs. On the rare occasions when these are not available I will buy half a dozen Co op heritage breed golden yolk eggs. If I’m having a soft boiled egg I want one which is very fresh.

 

[DustyBin]

I rarely buy more than a dozen eggs each month and so don’t mind paying a little more for better quality eggs. Living in a rural area I’m fortunate to usually be able to buy free range eggs on sale from stalls outside houses from people who just keep a few chickens and sell any surplus eggs to passers by. Often in a box of 6 there will be a real mixture of sizes and colours. Surprisingly these extremely fresh eggs sold by these very small producers can be very reasonably priced and often cheaper than buying standard shop eggs. On the rare occasions when these are not available I will buy half a dozen Co op heritage breed golden yolk eggs. If I’m having a soft boiled egg I want one which is very fresh.

We sometimes get free eggs off someone we know who keeps chickens but doesn’t eat them (the eggs I mean!). You’re right though, small producers can offer excellent value for money if you have any nearby.

 

[Mojo]

Visiting my cousin who keeps hens last week, she commented that in preparation for our visit, she'd had to buy supermarket eggs for the first time in a long while, as her hens weren't producing many at the moment.

You usually get fewer eggs in wintertime anyway I find, so can imagine being inside will have a similar effect. Although back when barn eggs used to be more common in shops, they were normally priced midway between eggs from caged hens, and free range.

 

[AndrewE]

On the farming programme on R4 again this morning (near the end of https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m001f5n1)... they reminded us of a meeting they reported in the spring - which the supermarkets failed to attend - where the producers pointed out that there would be a shortage in the autumn because they were de-stocking because of the losses they were making. They wanted 40p per dozen more to cover their costs...

Egg producer spokesman today said the supermarkets have put up prices by 40p but only passed on 9 or 10p with the expected results. They are furious that bird flu is being blamed. Also they pointed out that lower quality eggs are now being imported from Italy at a higher price than they would have been if UK producers had been given enough to keep them in business. So if you have to pay 50 or 60p more per dozen from now on, you know why it is.

You always get fewer eggs in wintertime anyway.

I think the farmers know that and manage things so that it isn't usually a problem.

 

[LSWR Cavalier]

Fewer eggs may be laid in winter, but I would have thought demand would be higher. I for one eat more eggs in winter.

How is that discrepancy dealt with?

 

[Darandio]

Fewer eggs may be laid in winter, but I would have thought demand would be higher. I for one eat more eggs in winter.

How is that discrepancy dealt with?

Importing, as with anything else.

 

[AndrewE]

Fewer eggs may be laid in winter, but I would have thought demand would be higher. I for one eat more eggs in winter.

How is that discrepancy dealt with?

a) farmers might well stock their houses so that there is a peak number of egg-laying birds at this time of year
b) more likely - there is a big import of eggs for industrial uses (going into cakes etc) so when UK eggs are in surplus some go that way and displace the imports, when numbers drop off they keep the supermarkets supplied and the imports increase. (and dried egg gets drawn in too, probably made abroad when our market for their "fresh" eggs dwindles in spring and summer.)

 

[DustyBin]

Importing, as with anything else.

I’ve never noticed imported eggs in the supermarket to be honest (although I can’t say that I’ve really looked!).

 

[Darandio]

I’ve never noticed imported eggs in the supermarket to be honest (although I can’t say that I’ve really looked!).

Apparently it's over 1 billion per year, but it likely won't be fresh eggs in shells and is more ready boiled and liquid eggs. I'd imagine in times of high supply we can cover most of that and our fresh eggs are used to fulfil this commercial as well as fresh shelf demand. In short supply most of the eggs are sold as fresh on the shelves and we import what's needed for catering etc.

 

[Mojo]

I’ve never noticed imported eggs in the supermarket to be honest (although I can’t say that I’ve really looked!).

Yes I don’t think they’re common whatsoever. The reason I say this is there has been some huge controversy this week after Sainsbury’s stocked some barn eggs imported from
Italy.

It is however possible that eggs for commercial users, such as cafes and food producers may be imported, whilst ones sold to consumers remain British eggs.

 

[DustyBin]

Apparently it's over 1 billion per year, but it likely won't be fresh eggs in shells and is more ready boiled and liquid eggs. I'd imagine in times of high supply we can cover most of that and our fresh eggs are used to fulfil this commercial as well as fresh shelf demand. In short supply most of the eggs are sold as fresh on the shelves and we import what's needed for catering etc.

Yes I don’t think they’re common whatsoever. The reason I say this is there has been some huge controversy this week after Sainsbury’s stocked some barn eggs imported from
Italy.

It is however possible that eggs for commercial users, such as cafes and food producers may be imported, whilst ones sold to consumers remain British eggs.

Good points. I was thinking purely of fresh eggs on the shelves, but they’re sold in plenty of other forms as you say.

 

[8A Rail]

Where would the UK be without creating a shortage of something or another! For a start some people in the media would be out of job or two!

 

[Busaholic]

I’ll confess to being an egg snob, for want of a better expression! If I buy them in the supermarket I get the more “exotic” ones as they are actually nicer. Cream Legbar eggs are one of my favourites, poached and served on toasted sourdough with a splash of Tabasco sauce.

I'm an egg snob too, if that has to be the nomenclature! I only get the choice of Burford Browns or (sometimes) the Legbar 'blues' - I've seen Cream Legbars in Waitrose, but that's a fifty mile round trip and at most a bi-annual treat.

 

[DustyBin]

I'm an egg snob too, if that has to be the nomenclature! I only get the choice of Burford Browns or (sometimes) the Legbar 'blues' - I've seen Cream Legbars in Waitrose, but that's a fifty mile round trip and at most a bi-annual treat.

The Burfords are nice, they sell them in M&S and (I think) Sainsburys. I stand to be corrected, but I think the Legbar "blues" are the eggs of the Cream Legbar.

 

[BananaRepublic]

We only buy local free range eggs, from our local family greengrocers.
Only on the rare occasion would we pick eggs up from Waitrose or Sainsburys.
There are no observable shortages as far as any of my family can see.
The greengrocer has not had any problems getting his supplies and he sells an awful lot of eggs.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

The Burfords are nice, they sell them in M&S and (I think) Sainsburys. I stand to be corrected, but I think the Legbar "blues" are the eggs of the Cream Legbar.

Sainsbury do stock that range, though smaller stores (such as Dewsbury) won't have the full range. I'm occasionally partial to their duck eggs as a bit of a treat.

 

[DelayRepay]

Breaking News! The Egg shortage is official.

Tesco follows other supermarkets in rationing eggs

The retailer introduces a temporary buying limit of three boxes per customer due to supply issues.

www.bbc.co.uk

Tesco has become the latest supermarket to ration the number of eggs customers can buy due to supply issues.
Customers at the UK's biggest supermarket are now limited to buying only three boxes of eggs, after Asda and Lidl set similar limits last week.
The move comes as UK poultry farmers face rising costs for chicken feed and energy, at a time when they are also being hit by an outbreak of bird flu.
It has led to a squeeze on the supply of eggs to supermarket shelves.
Last week, Tesco said it had good availability with no buying limits but was working with producers to protect supplies.
Now it has introduced a temporary rationing policy, following Lidl's decision to limit the number of egg boxes to three per customer.
Asda has set a two-box limit per customer, but other grocers, such as Sainsbury's and Morrisons are yet to make similar moves.

 

[Baxenden Bank]

Breaking News! The Egg shortage is official.

Tesco follows other supermarkets in rationing eggs

The retailer introduces a temporary buying limit of three boxes per customer due to supply issues.

www.bbc.co.uk

As exclusively revealed on this forum just over a week ago on the basis of my extensive personal research! When I went to Tesco on Saturday (early afternoon) there were some of the cheapest eggs this time plus a large number of the free range 'happy eggs'.

These extracts from the linked article reveal a great deal (if true). Supermarkets are pocketing the price increases and the government doesn't care much at all, presumably rarity and expensive eggs remain in healthy supply.

Farmers have claimed that despite the price of a dozen eggs rising by about 45p in the supermarkets since March, they've only received between 5p to 10p of that increase and are not being paid a fair price.
Therese Coffey, the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, has previously said she is not concerned about the overall supply of eggs in the UK.

 

[AndrewE]

These extracts from the linked article reveal a great deal (if true). Supermarkets are pocketing the price increases and the government doesn't care much at all, presumably rarity and expensive eggs remain in healthy supply.

Did nobody read posts 3 and 10?

 

[Baxenden Bank]

Did nobody read posts 3 and 10?

Yes, but I didn't realise I was meant to memorise every post for future reference. This is 11 days later and I responded to the latest BBC News report. Perhaps you could have a word with the BBC and ask why they are so far behind the curve and/or repeating old news?

 

[Busaholic]

As exclusively revealed on this forum just over a week ago on the basis of my extensive personal research! When I went to Tesco on Saturday (early afternoon) there were some of the cheapest eggs this time plus a large number of the free range 'happy eggs'.

These extracts from the linked article reveal a great deal (if true). Supermarkets are pocketing the price increases and the government doesn't care much at all, presumably rarity and expensive eggs remain in healthy supply.

No limit in Morrison's, but then no customers there either! They used to be cheaper than Tesco or Sainsburys, and the three are virtually next to one another on the approaches to my town, but not on the evidence of my first visit in a couple of months.

 

[Baxenden Bank]

A visit to Tesco this morning and more eggs than a person could possibly want, across all types and price ranges. They even had the free range 'happy eggs' on end-of-aisle promotion - the poor little hens must now be over producing!

 

[Ediswan]

No eggs at the local butcher this afternoon, which has never happened before, not even during the early c***d panic buying. 'Reduced allocation' apparently.

 

[Gloster]

Not being an egg eater I have not followed this thread, but there is a bit about eggs in the The Agri Brigade section of the current Private Eye (1587). Eggs have gone up by roughly 45p per dozen, but only 5-10p reaches the farmers, leaving them losing money. The farmers’ costs have skyrocketed and many have left the industry, paused or reduced their flocks: 9 milllion fewer eggs were packed in the third quarter of this year compared to the previous quarter.

 

[Busaholic]

Not being an egg eater I have not followed this thread, but there is a bit about eggs in the The Agri Brigade section of the current Private Eye (1587). Eggs have gone up by roughly 45p per dozen, but only 5-10p reaches the farmers, leaving them losing money. The farmers’ costs have skyrocketed and many have left the industry, paused or reduced their flocks: 9 milllion fewer eggs were packed in the third quarter of this year compared to the previous quarter.

A lot of the problem seems to be that, even when the greedy supermarkets realised they had to fork out more to secure eggs they paid the increase to the packers of the eggs, being the people they deal with, and those packers only passed on a small proportion to the farmers. Only Waitrose appear to have addressed the problem the right way from the beginning, but their shoppers are less likely to have to worry about if each egg costs 25p or 50p.

 

[DelayRepay]

I buy my eggs from a small local shop, who get them from a local farmer. They have put the price up by 10p per half dozen with an apologetic note about the price of feed increasing. They're cheaper than the supermarket, and fresher/nicer.

The shop keeper asks people to take their old egg boxes back for re-use, to keep costs down.

 

[DustyBin]

I buy my eggs from a small local shop, who get them from a local farmer. They have put the price up by 10p per half dozen with an apologetic note about the price of feed increasing. They're cheaper than the supermarket, and fresher/nicer.

I’d use our “local” farm shop more but it’s not really local! We support quite a few local shops though, butchers, bakery etc. as opposed to using the supermarket as a one-stop, although it’s undoubtedly more convenient.

The shop keeper asks people to take their old egg boxes back for re-use, to keep costs down.

You can do this in M&S if you pick your own eggs. Makes sense all round really.

 

[DelW]

The shop keeper asks people to take their old egg boxes back for re-use, to keep costs down.

You can do this in M&S if you pick your own eggs. Makes sense all round really.

I "recycle" any egg boxes I get to the egg stall at the local farmers' market, where they're always welcomed (I buy some eggs at the same time).
I also buy my jam and marmalade from a stall at the same market, who gives a 20p discount if you take the washed empties back there.
It's a pity that such measures aren't more widely available or publicised.

 

[DustyBin]

I "recycle" any egg boxes I get to the egg stall at the local farmers' market, where they're always welcomed (I buy some eggs at the same time).
I also buy my jam and marmalade from a stall at the same market, who gives a 20p discount if you take the washed empties back there.
It's a pity that such measures aren't more widely available or publicised.

The other thing is that most if not all of this stuff is locally produced so therefore should be “greener”.

Like you say it’s a pity there’s not more of this kind of thing. Recycling is good don’t get me wrong, but reusing is even better.

 

[Mojo]

The cheaper range of eggs are finally back in stock at our local Waitrose, although the price has gone up from £1 to £1.15 for 6 eggs.

I still think the best value eggs are found at Sainsbury’s, £1.43 for 10. Aldi do packs of 15 for £2.15 which works out at the same price.