A hundred thousand eggs were stolen Saturday from an organic supplier in Franklin County amid skyrocketing prices stemming from an avian flu outbreak, Pennsylvania State Police said.
The eggs were swiped from the back of a distribution trailer around 8:40 p.m. at the Pete & Gerry’s Organics warehouse on Commerce Avenue in Antrim Township, state police said.
The eggs are worth about $40,000. State police are asking anyone with information to call the Chambersburg barracks at 717-264-5161.
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The price for a dozen large eggs in the United States has jumped 36.8% since last year thanks to a recent flu outbreak that has left eggs in short supply, according to the Consumer Price Index.
Grocery stores across central Pennsylvania are selling a dozen for about $4.69 and up, depending on the brand and type. Inventory is spotty at some stores where signs inform shoppers about potential shortages.
The avian influenza is caused by the H5N1 virus. The recent epidemic started in 2022 and has killed about 136 million birds, according to the USDA. There are no live cases among poultry in Pennsylvania as of publication.