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For several weeks now, reports have been flooding in of food shortages in the UK and the rest of Europe, with supermarket shelves standing empty of fresh produce and several shops limiting sales. Spain has so far escaped unscathed but one staple food item appears to be running out: eggs.

 

The war in Ukraine has pushed up the production cost of virtually every foodstuff but the persistent avian flu, by far the worst outbreak ever seen in Europe, has resulted in the culling of thousands of birds, thus drastically reducing the amount of eggs available for market. As a result, supermarket chain BonÀrea has made the decision this week to begin rationing eggs.

 

"We inform you that, for several weeks, there has been a general shortage of eggs for consumption on the market, which has caused an increase in demand and, consequently, in sales prices," the Barcelona-based store communicated in an internal memo.

 

And despite managing to increase its supply by around 25%, supermarket bosses have admitted that "the demand exceeds the available supply and it is possible that there will be shortages in orders".

 

To keep things ticking over, the grocery chain has decided to set a maximum number of 10 dozen eggs per customer, which is still rather a large amount for any individual buyer, but which the company has set to ensure there’s enough produce for everyone without resulting in “anger or misunderstandings”.

 

While many supermarkets in the UK began rationing eggs at the end of last year, in Spain we have to go back as far as March to find a comparison, when stores were forced to limit the amount of sunflower oil customers could buy in one go.

 

However, sources from the distribution sector have described the rationing by BonÀrea as a “specific case” and have assured that Spain is in no danger of running out of eggs. Rather, the likely issues will come from a rise in price and not in product shortage, the Interprofessional Organisation of Eggs and its Products (Inprovo) explained.

 

In fact, prices have tripled in the last year, going from 0.80 to 2.40 euros at source, and some supermarkets in Spain have hiked up the cost by more than 40%.

 

 

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