Customers have reported difficulty finding eggs at their local grocery shops in recent months. A number of things, including broken supply chains, rising demand, and disease outbreaks among chicken populations, have been blamed for the worldwide egg crisis.
Many nations, including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia and Taiwan, have experienced egg shortages. In order to discourage hoarding and guarantee that more people have access to this necessary food item, several grocery shops have placed restrictions on the quantity of eggs that customers may purchase.
Supply chain difficulties brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic are a significant reason of the egg scarcity. Egg farmers have found it challenging to import or export their goods due to restrictions on international travel and shipping, which has resulted in shortages in certain regions and oversupply in others. The issue has been made worse by labor shortages and lockdowns, which have made it more difficult for farmers to transfer their eggs to markets.
Another aspect is the rise in egg demand as more individuals cook at home as a result of the pandemic-related ban on eating out. As a result, egg sales have increased significantly, which has put pressure on farmers to raise their supply. This has not been simple, either, as egg-laying chickens need a certain diet, and it takes time to increase output.
The lack of eggs has also been impacted by disease outbreaks among chicken populations. For instance, a 2021 avian influenza epidemic in the United States led to the mass killing of millions of egg-laying hens, drastically reducing the nations egg supply.
Consumers are worried about food security, price, and the welfare of poultry populations as a result of the world egg crisis. Some have complained that supermarket retailers that have implemented purchasing restrictions are ineffectively addressing the problem.
By boosting output and enhancing their supply networks, egg producers are attempting to alleviate the shortfall. However, it could take some time for these initiatives to make much of a difference, and in the meanwhile, customers might need to change their eating plans and grocery shopping routines to account for the scarcity.
Ultimately, the worldwide egg crisis serves as a reminder of the current food systems complexity and interdependence, as well as the need for increased resilience and adaptation in the face of global crises.
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Q1: What is the main topic of the article?
A. bird flu
B. the global shortage of eggs
C. cooking with eggs
Q2: In the fourth paragraph what do the words ‘eating out’ mean?
A. sitting outdoors to have a meal
B. cooking at home
C. going to a restaurant or street stall to eat
Q3: What are the causes of the global egg shortage?
A. people buying more eggs than they need
B. difficulties in transporting eggs, a rise in demand, and lack of chickens due to avian flu
C. supermarket retailers refusing to sell eggs
Answers:
Q1: B Q2: C Q3: B
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