December 29, 2022

 

New Zealand hit with egg shortage as caged egg phased out

Supermarkets in New Zealand said there is a short supply of eggs due to the phasing out of caged eggs, Stuff NZ reported.

 

Eggs at some outlets of major supermarket chain Countdown are completely out of stock, while competitor Foodstuffs have implemented a temporary limit on egg purchases.

 

Foodstuffs said that the supply problems were caused in part by the record-high demand for eggs at this time of year.

 

The government proposed legislation in 2012 to phase out caged eggs by 2023, with the expectation that this would temporarily reduce supply.

 

The decision to phase out cage eggs, according to Foodstuff, represents a significant change for the egg supply industry.

 

Emma Wooster, a spokesperson for Foodstuffs, said some stores have put on temporary limits on eggs to help support the transition.

 

She said Foodstuffs is committed to working closely with the government and New Zealand egg suppliers to meet the target of becoming completely cage-free by 2027, adding that as they phase-out caged eggs, they will be working with the egg industry to increase their offer in colony, barn, and free-range eggs.

 

A spokesperson for chain supermarket Countdown said they are currently experiencing a reduced supply of eggs due to the challenges their egg farmers have faced in the last couple of years and the impacts of upcoming regulatory changes to their businesses.

 

The spokesperson said they are working closely with egg farmers to get more eggs on the shelf as soon as possible.

 

-      Stuff NZ