TOKYO Jiji Press - Egg wholesale prices hit a 37 year high in the Tokyo area due to a series of outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza at large-scale farms for egg-laying hens across Japan.
The standard wholesale price of eggs rose 15 from the previous day to 305 per kilogram, the highest level for January since 1986, said egg seller JA.Z- Tamago Co..
The bird flu outbreaks resulted in shortages of eggs for businesses. Convenience store chain Seven-Eleven Japan Co. said on Tuesday it has suspended sales of some eggs.
Egg wholesale prices are usually high in December. The latest price has reached 300, which was reached in late December 2022.
In the country's 47 prefectures, 25 of the country's 47 cases of bird flu have been reported. Some 12.35 million poultry, including over 11 million egg-laying hens, have been culled so far.
An egg producing industry official said that prices will remain high for the time as the number of egg-laying hens has yet to recover from the culling.
Seven-Eleven Japan, a unit of Seven i Holdings Co., stopped selling 15 egg items, including a seasoned soft-boiled egg product.
The company decreased the amount of boiled eggs used in some 10 items, such as sandwich and salad products, and increased that of hams, vegetables, and other ingredients for them. The company will continue to sell raw eggs.