Easter is still months away, but grocery shopping could soon become an egg hunt as the impact of the bird flu outbreak is affecting supplies of eggs in Florida.
Some outlets of grocery chains in the Tampa Bay area, including Publix and Sprouts, were low on eggs Friday with some shelves already empty. Publix officials on Thursday said that the shortage is due to a rise in demand caused by concern that the spread of bird flu will limit supplies.
“We are working to bring these products back as soon as possible,” the company said in a statement. “We encourage customers to check back regularly, as our stores are receiving routine deliveries.”
A random survey of local stores found eggs in some and supplies low in others, including a Sprouts store in West Tampa and a Publix store in Brandon. Egg prices have also risen with the outbreak, with the price of a dozen eggs averaging $3.65 nationwide, up from $2.70 in May, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data…