Are Eggs Safe to Eat amid the Bird Flu Outbreak? Here Are Alternatives to Try as They Remain in Short Supply

The country has continued to be impacted by the ongoing outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), also known as bird flu.

Due to farmers being forced to euthanize millions of infected egg-laying hens each month — in addition to inflation — egg production in the United States has slowed, and the price of wholesale eggs has skyrocketed. Wholesale prices for large eggs hit $5.57 per dozen in the Midwest in December, up 150% from a year ago, according to commodity data firm Expana. Prices were even higher in California, reaching a record high of $8.85 per dozen.

Additionally, the loss of so many chickens nationwide has left countless grocery store shelves empty.

Despite the outbreak, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said it “remains confident in the safety of the food supply.” The agency stressed that the Food Safety and Inspection Service, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, and Agricultural Research Service "have completed multiple studies to confirm that poultry and eggs that are properly prepared and cooked are safe to eat."

Cooking poultry and eggs to an internal temperature of 165˚F kills bacteria and viruses, according to the CDC.

Dr. Joseph Khabbaza, who works in Critical Care and Pulmonology at the Cleveland Clinic, previously told PEOPLE, “In general, we should be cooking our eggs and not eating raw eggs. But as long as these are pasteurized dairy products and cooked foods, it really would eliminate any kind of risk to us.”

Related: What to Know About the Bird Flu amid the Current Outbreak

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However, for those who are unable to find — or afford — a carton of eggs, there are alternatives available.

Tofu is a common replacement for eggs — use ¼ cup of tofu per egg. Firm to extra-firm tofu can be used to mimic breakfast dishes like scrambled eggs and hardboiled eggs. Silken tofu is a good option for baking because it's relatively flavorless and has a similar consistency to eggs.

Aquafaba — the residual water you get when you soak dry chickpeas or drain a can of the beans — is another fantastic plant-based egg replacer for baking. Just 3 tablespoons of aquafaba equals 1 egg.

Applesauce and mashed bananas are also good egg substitutes — and cheap as well. One egg can be replaced with ¼ cup of applesauce, or half of one large banana that is mashed until gooey.

Flaxseeds and chia seeds are also suggested swaps. To replace one egg, whisk together 1 tablespoon of ground chia or flaxseed with 3 tablespoons of water until fully absorbed and thickened.

Related: Egg Prices Soaring at Your Grocery Store? It’s Because of Bird Flu

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It's unclear when the cost of eggs will continue to rise in the United States. It's possible that they will not drop until after 2025, depending on how well farmers recover with healthy egg-laying hens.

The USDA said the agency has been funding research for vaccines that could protect poultry from the bird flu. However, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack said there would be long-term challenges.

“Widespread vaccination of commercial poultry is not possible in the short term,” Vilsack wrote in a March 2024 letter to members of Congress, Reuters reported.

The World Health Organization does not currently list the bird flu outbreak as a global health emergency.

This is nowhere near Covid-levels of concern, Dr. Joseph Khabbaza, Critical Care and Pulmonology at the Cleveland Clinic, previously told PEOPLE. “This would be completely different than four years ago in Covid because there's no human-to-human transmission that really occurs.”

“A very small, very tiny percentage of people are even at risk of getting infected,” he added. “So, if you work in one of those fields where you have very close exposure to cattle and wild birds and poultry, those are the people who have to be most vigilant.”

But as for now, “For the vast majority of Americans, there should be no Covid-like fears.”

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