[Courtesy of Iclickart]
Eggs started running out of stock this week at South Korean supermarkets amid concerns about a steep price hike prompted by the endless culling of layer chickens infected with a highly pathogenic strain of bird flu.
The hoarding of eggs by consumers was reported at South Korea's largest retailer, E-mart, and two major discount chains -- Lotte Mart and Homeplus.
The three raised retail egg prices by five percent last week and up to five percent again Thursday. E-mart sells a pack of 30 eggs for 6,580 won (5.59 US dollars). Distributors predict further price hikes as the supply of eggs stands at less than 70 percent of demand.
Agriculture ministry officials admit there is no short-term solution to a supply shortage, citing the rapid spread of the bird flu virus that has left a record number of chickens and ducks culled.
Since H5N6, a new type of virus, was detected for the first time in South Korea on November 16, some 15.4 million chickens and ducks have been slaughtered and buried, breaking a previous record of 13.9 million culled for 195 days in 2014.
The agriculture ministry said 12 percent of total layer chickens or 8.17 million have been culled. As yet, there has been a slight change in chicken meat consumption but distributors allude to a price hike soon.
H5N6 has caused a higher mortality rate than previous cases. There has been no human infection in South Korea. Health authorities have blamed migratory birds for spreading the virus.
Aju News Lim Chang-won = cwlim34@ajunews.com
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