Shortage has egg-spensive impact on locals, small businesses

AMBLER, Pa. (WPVI) -- For months, prices for the little oval, known as nature's perfect food, have been less than perfect, putting a crack in egg lovers budgets.

"It's protein and it's a good thing to have in the house, but you just can't afford it anymore," said Leola Johnson of Mount Airy. "For about two or three months from a $1-something to 3-something."

The cause? An egg shortage due to a Bird flu breakout this summer.

Across the country, more than 47 million chickens and turkeys were killed. Most were hens in Iowa - the top U.S. egg-producing state.

The impact of the losses is expected to stretch into next year, with record-high prices reaching almost $2 a dozen.

"It used to be a $120 dollars to feed the family now it's $160, $170," said Ron Furiato of Exton, adding it's very frustrating "because wages aren't going up."

Rich's Deli in Fort Washington is famous for its breakfast sandwiches so owner Rich Rosenau absorbed the cost himself instead of passing it on to customers.

But at his restaurant in Spring House, customers will see a small increase on menu items that include the ingredient.

"I put a 50 cent supplemental charge on the egg items at my restaurant," said Rosenau.

Business owners said the egg prices have gotten better, but they haven't stabilized yet so with the holidays right around the corner, some are planning to take an extra big hit this year.

"The holidays you see your ham prices, your egg prices, they go up routinely. I mean that's annually," said Rosenau.

Dennis Darr of Alice's bakery in Ambler, who makes all his convections from scratch, said the hangover cost from the egg shortage has just made the problem of sky-rocketing food prices that much harder for small business.

"Earlier, you know, the food costs were so low small businesses in the food industry really made a profit," said Darr. "As everything is coming up, it's coming to a point where the customer is going to pay a fortune for what they want."