Is American egg shortage as Trump’s spokesperson’s claim? , Food news

President Donald Trump promised low prices including eggs. But a rift in his plan is that egg prices have not fallen since assuming office on 20 January.

White House press secretary Karolin Levit convicted former President Joe Biden’s “policies” on January 28, in his first on-camera news briefing.

Lewitt said that the Biden Administration and the US Department of Agriculture directed the mass murder of more than 100 million chickens, due to which there is a lack of chicken supply in this country, so there is a lack of egg supply, which is lacking “.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjogsqqydy4

Leavitt’s statement is partly accurate about the match of millions of chickens, but left important details and references about why it happened.

First, chickens were killed to prevent the spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza, or bird flu.

Second, it is a long time of USDA policy to reduce an entire flock of birds after detection of bird flu during Trump’s first administration.

White House Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly sent the Politifact back for Levit’s news briefing comments.

Egg prices rose under biden – $ 1.60 per dozen in February 2021 to $ 4.10 in December 2024 (their first and last full month in office), Labor Statistics Data Show Bureau. The January food price approach of the Agriculture Department said that egg prices may increase by about 20 percent more this year.

A spokesperson to track consumer prices, a spokesperson, told the news outlet Exios that a dozen large eggs cost more than $ 7 in some American areas.

The USDA stated that since February 8, 2022, when the virus was found in a commercial herd, more than 147 million birds including chickens, turkey, ducks and giz have died, the USDA said.

USDA data suggests that 108 million egg laying chickens died since 2022, including 13 million in 2025. It is not clear how euthanasia or died of the virus.

As of January 29, bird flu has also been detected in dairy cattle, affecting 944 flocks in 16 states, US Center for Disease Control and Prevention Data Show. The CDC said that humans have also conducted positive tests for the virus – 67 confirmed cases have been reported in the US and one person has died.

Why are there herds?

Experts said that politically birds are designed to prevent the virus from spreading. It not only protects the surrounding fields and poultry industry, but also public health. The federal law of 2002, the Animal Health Protection Act, the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services Authority gives the health inspection service authority to prevent the spread of the disease to remove herds and herds.

“If the birds have died, the virus dies with them,” said Russell, a veterinarian from the South Dakota Department of Health and a veterinarian from South Dakota State University.

There is little possibility of surviving in chickens contracted by bird flu virus; The CDC said that 90 percent to 100 percent die, usually within 48 hours, the CDC said.

To die naturally while waiting for chickens, more viral load is allowed in the environment, which makes more dangerous to farm workers and others, who come in contact with farm, more thompson, agricultural economics of Arkansas And the Agribity Associate Professor Professor said.

Is this policy new?

Several veterinary professors told Politffect that the “exit” of sick birds is a long -living policy and the 2015 bird flu outbreak during the Obama administration is pointed out.

The depression is the primary control and elimination strategy of the USDA for Avian Influenza, Yuko Sato, a veterinarian and Iowa State University Associate Professor.

“This is disastrous since the latest outbreak 2022 since a large number of campuses since the latest outbreak 2022, Carol Cardona, Veterinary Professor of Minnesota and Chairman of Avian Health. “But the rule is for a long time.”

A USDA report of 2016 suggests that 50 million birds were killed as a result of depression in 2015.

A USDA bird flu reaction plan updated in May 2017 during Trump’s first administration, includes policy guidance based on the lesson of influenza outbreak during the first Trump administration. It states: “Rapidly infected poultry of poultry is important to prevent the transmission of the depression virus and should be preferred.”

During the March 2017 bird flu outbreak, a USDA report stated, “Around 253,000 birds were removed.”

How does it work?

The USDA encourages farmers who notice signs of disease to contact USDA or their state veterinarians. Samples taken from animals are tested and USDA confirms cases; Depolation usually occurs within 48 hours of the virus confirmed.

The USDA pays farmers for the killed birds.

“It is in the best interest of the farmer to get it quickly, as the USDA provides compensation payments for euthanasia birds, but not those who die naturally,” Dali said.

Our rule

Lewitt said there is a shortage of eggs as the Biden administration “directed the mass murder of more than 100 million chickens”.

During the Biden administration, chickens laying more than 100 million eggs from bird flu died or were killed to prevent the spread of the virus. This led to egg deficiency and high prices.

Agricultural experts said that there is a long practice to prevent bird flu from spreading. Government documents suggest that during Trump’s first term and under Obama, the USDA had a bird flu strategy during the 2015 outbreak.

Levit’s statement is partially accurate, but leaves important details and references. We rate it Half -truth,