Eggs Off The Menu As Japan Battles Bird Flu Crisis

Japan is facing an acute shortage of eggs as Bird Flu spread in the country. Some people are having to make the swap as the country battles its worst outbreak of Avian Influenza on record.

It has led to millions of chickens being culled, a shortage in eggs and sent the price of egg-based dishes soaring. In short, eggs are becoming a luxury.

And that’s a huge problem when they are a staple in Japanese cuisine – from egg rolls to omurice and soft-boiled yolks on ramen.

Japan, in particular, has been hit hard. It has been forced to cull a record 17 million chickens, or about 9% of egg-laying hens.

Read Also:

Italy Moves To Rescue 1,200 Migrants Stranded In Boats

A kilo of medium-size eggs now costs about 350 yen (£2.11; $2.62), says Ja. Z-tamago, a unit of the National Federation of Agricultural Cooperative Associations.

For the consumer, the price shock is less steep, but the impact is flowing through in what’s being struck off menus.

In the past year, there has been a 70 per cent increase in the prices of wholesale eggs, as the data shared by a local egg seller.

One kilo of medium-size eggs costs around ¥350 ($2.62), stated JA. Z-Tamago, which is a unit of the National Federation of Agricultural Co-operative Associations.

The steep increase in price has left consumers shocked and has forced restaurants to strike egg-based dishes off the menus.

Last month, McDonald’s outlet in Japan had to warn diners it may suspend the sale of popular Teritama burgers during peak periods. Teritama is a portmanteau made from teriyaki sauce and tamago or eggs in Japanese