With U.S. egg prices erring on the side of exuberant, intrepid Americans are sticking it to the man and buying eggs south of the border in Mexico.
While we commend their frugality, the act is illegal.
Desperate times, desperate measures
Confiscations of eggs at certain U.S.-Mexico border crossings have surged more than 300 percent (year-over-year between November to mid-January).
U.S. Customs and Border Protection reports egg seizures are up 91 percent at El Paso, 301 percent at Laredo, 333 percent at Tucson, and 368 percent at San Diego.
When the egg smugglers are questioned, they all read from the same script—eggs prices are high in the U.S. and they’re cheaper in Mexico. In most cases, these desperate bargain hunters bring in no more than a few 30-egg flats, but unfortunately for them, it’s still illegal to do so.
Egg smugglers are unaware of the illegality
That said, for the most part, the egg smuggles were not clandestine attempts to break the law, rather acts of pure ignorance. “We believe a lot of people were just unaware [of the restrictions],” Roger Maier, a spokesman for U.S. Customs and Border Protection, told the American Journal of Transportation.
It’s a common ritual of border town residents to cross over and buy groceries in Mexican stores. Border patrol typically gives the green light for travelers to bring in a wide range of products (yes, Takis chips are included). However, rules and regulations are strict on fruits, vegetables, and animal products from entering the U.S.
Raw eggs are included in this no-go grocery list and are banned altogether from being imported into the country as it can spread dangerous viruses, like Newcastle Disease and avian flu. The latter of which had recent outbreaks that have ravaged hen flocks in the U.S. (a key contributor to the country’s current price hike in the first place).
The majority of unaware smugglers declared their egg purchases upfront to border inspectors and avoided any fines. However, their precious hauls of eggs were confiscated and likely disposed of.
How does border patrol like its eggs? In the trash bin.
Final Thoughts
Eggs prices have been one of the zits to an unsteady American economy. Among other food staples, eggs have seen the most skyrocketing in cost. Prices in December were 60 percent higher when compared to December 2021, according to the Labor Department’s consumer price index. The primary cause of all this can be traced to avian flu outbreaks, and the consequent deaths of hen flocks.
On a positive note, the wholesale price of eggs has shown some softening over the past month, a hopeful sign of some relief ahead.
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