Americans trying to smuggle raw eggs into US from Mexico to avoid high prices

Americans living near the southern border are crossing into Mexico for their grocery shopping to avoid high prices in the United States.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection warned travelers that transporting agricultural items like raw eggs and poultry from Mexico to the United States can result in fines. The agency said there was an increase in prohibited foods intercepted by officers at the border due to rising prices due to the outbreak of bird flu.

We are seeing an increase in people trying to cross eggs from Juarez to El Paso because they are less expensive in Mexico than the U.S. Roger Maier, a CBP Public Affairs Specialist, based in El Paso, Texas, said that this is also occurring with added frequency at other southwest border locations as well.

The El Paso Field Office reported a 92% increase in the number of travelers trying to carry eggs into the United States between Nov. 1 and Jan. 17 over the same period last year. The highest number of interceptions of eggs has been reported by the San Diego Field Office in the last year, with 1,077 incidents, a 368% increase since last year.

Anyone caught smuggling eggs can face a $300 civil penalty, though CBP says most people declare their prohibited foodstuffs during inspection at the border.

There has been an increase in the volume of prohibited food items, such as raw eggs and raw poultry meat, brought by travelers from Mexico. Jennifer De La O, CBP - Director of Field Operations in San Diego, said we would like to remind the traveling public that federal agricultural regulations remain in effect.

In the final week of December 2022, U.S. egg inventories were 29% lower than in the beginning of the year due to an outbreak of avian influenza, according to the Department of Agriculture's Economic Research Service. More than 43 million egg-laying hens were lost to the disease, and constrained supply has sent egg prices skyrocketing to record highs.

Consumers were hit with a 60% increase in prices across all egg types last year, according to the consumer price index, which measures inflation.

The average price for a dozen large, Grade A eggs was $4.25 in December, a rise of 138% from $1.79 the year before, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor statistics.

Although high prices in the U.S. can make cheaper eggs seem like an easy way to save money, CBP reminds border residents that prohibited food items declared during inspection when traveling from Mexico will be collected and destroyed.

There have been very few cases in the last week or so where the eggs were not declared and then discovered during an inspection, Maier told FOX Business. The individual is assessed $300 in civil penalties if eggs are seized and the eggs are seized. Penalties can be higher for repeat offenders or commercial size imports.

The best advice to travelers is to declare it when you purchase food and agriculture products. He said that while some items may be permissible, it is best to declare them to avoid possible fines and penalties if they are deemed to be prohibited. They can be abandoned without consequence if they are declared and deemed prohibited. If they are undeclared and then discovered during an exam, the traveler will be subject to penalties.