Three months into his 2nd term, here’s what you’ll find in California supermarkets: Eggs are being sold by the carton at insane prices. Other supermarkets (Trader Joe’s) have signs on the fridge saying: “Only one box of 12 eggs per household“.

The downstream effects are devastating: bakeries, restaurants and anyone who needs eggs and other ingredients for their business are paying top dollar. The Bonjour Bakehouse in San Mateo, on behalf of many others, had to find a local supplier of eggs, because a dollar or two more price increase for a single egg, which then has to be added to a croissant, and at croissant prices in the San Francisco Bay Area that would make any seasoned Frenchman’s hair stand on end, is hardly reasonable here either.

But it’s not just the hospitality industry that is affected, families are also confronted with this, especially ahead of a season where eggs play an important role. American parents are trying to find alternatives to Easter eggs. Ever heard of Easter potatoes? German Der Postillion meant it in jest, but in the USA it’s a reality.

The reason for the egg shortage in the USA is bird flu. Just as panic buying during the COVID pandemic led to sold-out toilet paper, there are now too few laying hens. Many of them have had to be culled due to the epidemic and it will take time for enough laying hens to grow back.

For those who don’t want to wait, there are alternatives. Plant-based eggs such as those from Yo Eggs or Le Papondu are just two examples of where the food industry is heading. In other words, the fear of bird flu and egg prices can be safely put to one side. The future is already here, but not everyone has tasted it yet.