Egg Prices: US Department of Justice is Investigating

March 8, 2025 – The Department of Justice has launched an investigation into the recent surge in egg prices, examining whether major egg producers have engaged in anti-competitive practices to artificially inflate costs. The inquiry comes after a period of record-high egg prices, which some consumer advocacy groups and lawmakers suspect may be the result of collusion among suppliers.

“If you add up all the expenses, you will get a grand total of $0.26 to produce one egg. Multiply that by 12, and we get $3.12 to produce one dozen eggs.”

Officials are scrutinizing whether egg producers intentionally restricted supply to drive up prices, despite industry claims that factors like avian flu outbreaks and increased production costs have contributed to the spike. The antitrust division is reviewing market dynamics to determine whether any illegal activity, such as price-fixing or coordinated supply reductions, has occurred.

Egg prices more than doubled in some areas over the past year, raising concerns about profiteering at a time when inflation has already burdened consumers. Some critics argue that large egg producers have used external challenges as a pretext for excessive price hikes, benefiting from reduced competition in the industry.

If wrongdoing is found, the DOJ could take enforcement actions against responsible parties. The investigation underscores broader concerns about corporate pricing strategies in essential food markets, as federal regulators seek to prevent unfair manipulation that harms consumers.