Federal law prohibits their import from Mexico.
Egg prices continue to rise, and Senator Jack Reed of Rhode Island has called for a congressional investigation as to why prices are as high as they are. The U.S. Department of Agriculture reports that the average national price for a dozen eggs is just under $3.40. Whichever is most correct, a year ago, the price for a dozen eggs was $1.30.
As prices surge, Americans look for other options, and many have been crossing the border into Mexico to buy eggs there where the prices are much lower.
The chief agricultural specialist with U.S. Customs and Border Protection at the San Ysidro crossing between San Diego and Tijuana said that eggs from Mexico are prohibited. Her agents have been seizing them as “hundreds upon hundreds of people bring boxes.” She said, “all of these eggs will be destroyed.”
The reason the eggs are prohibited and will be destroyed is their potential to carry the virus that causes bird flu. Bird flu in some areas is already considered a main reason for the increasing price of eggs across the country. A Tennessee farmer reported that his flock of 267,000 birds had been destroyed.
Most U.S.-Mexico ports of entry are experiencing the phenomenon. People who release their eggs to the agents face no penalties, but those who smuggle them into the U.S. face civil penalties or fines.
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- For Secretary Vilsack as he oversees the USDA.
- For Acting Commissioner Troy Miller as he manages U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
- For Senator Reed as he heads inquiries regarding the high price of eggs.
Sources: Fox News, ABC News, The Hill
