IF YOU’VE noticed a popular grocery item missing or in low supply on supermarket shelves, you’re not the only one.

There is an egg shortage and it’s placing heavy demand on the supply chain.

There were similar problems with supply in mid-2023 as supermarkets transitioned from ‘caged’ to ‘cage free’ eggs.

It was surreal then too, with bare shelving and very few cartons out for sale.

This time, the shortage is linked to limited supply chains following an avian influenza outbreak mid last year.

Managing director of Australian Eggs Rowan McMonnies, said the impact of avian influenza in Australia was being felt right across the poultry industries.

“Early detections give us the best prospect of limiting further spread and eradicating the virus,” he said.

“We have already seen disruption to egg supply with shelves thinning out in some stores towards the end of the day.”

He said consumers could be assured there were still more than 20 million hens under the care of hundreds of egg farmers across Australia who would continue to work hard to ensure there were eggs on shelves.