Egg prices have been climbing, and some believe California’s cage-free egg law is to blame. Nevada recently suspended its cage-free requirement for 120 days, hoping to lower costs. But will this actually solve the problem, or are we focusing on the wrong issue?
Nevada’s temporary suspension allows eggs from conventional farms to be sold in the state, with the goal of increasing supply and reducing prices.
Since 2022, bird flu has led to the culling of nearly 148 million birds, reducing production and driving up costs.
Critics argue that cage-free laws limit supply, making eggs more expensive. While only about 40% of laying hens in the U.S. are cage-free, large buyers like McDonald’s and Sodexo have already committed to sourcing only cage-free eggs.
The cause of egg shortages is the ongoing bird flu outbreak, which has impacted both caged and cage-free farms. California alone has lost over 3 million birds due to the disease. Suspending cage-free laws might increase egg supply, but it won’t stop future outbreaks.
Unlike Nevada, states like California, Massachusetts, and Washington are unlikely to change their cage-free laws, as many of these regulations were approved by voters.
