Egg Price Volatility: Why Egg Alternatives Matter
Egg prices rarely stay still for long. History shows they move in cycles, shaped by factors ranging from disease outbreaks and feed costs to broader supply chain constraints. Periods of stability often create breathing room, but they can also lull purchasing teams into planning around today’s conditions rather than tomorrow’s realities.
For food and beverage manufacturers, understanding that volatility is a recurring — not an isolated — issue is essential to long-term planning and cost mitigation.
Volatility is cyclical and here to stay
Beginning in 2022, outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) significantly disrupted U.S. egg supply, forcing the loss of millions of egg-laying hens and triggering sharp price spikes. Retail egg prices rose from roughly $2.20 per dozen in early 2022 to more than $5 per dozen a year later, eventually reaching record highs, with some markets exceeding $6 per dozen at their peak.* While prices have since retreated, subsequent outbreaks have continued to drive renewed volatility, underscoring how quickly conditions can change.
According to USDA data, HPAI outbreaks in 2025 alone led to the depopulation of more than 42 million commercial table egg-laying hens across 11 U.S. states, affecting both conventional and cage-free production systems. With avian flu still active and flock recovery requiring time, egg price volatility remains a structural feature of the market, not a temporary anomaly.
Beyond disease pressure, egg pricing remains sensitive to broader input costs — including feed, energy, and inflation — further compounding volatility and making long-term price stability difficult to sustain.
When calm prices mask underlying risk
While prices have stabilized for now, history suggests that periods of relative price stability can create a false sense of security. Volatility planning often slips down the priority list as teams focus on near-term performance, cost optimization, and speed to market.
The challenge is that egg market conditions can change far faster than product strategies can. When volatility returns, unprepared manufacturers may find themselves reacting under pressure, rushing reformulation efforts and losing ground to competitors.
The most resilient strategies are often built when markets feel quiet, not when they are already under stress.
Ingredient flexibility as a hedge against egg volatility
One way manufacturers are managing egg price volatility is by building greater flexibility into their ingredient strategies during calmer market periods. More and more, teams are evaluating where and how eggs can be partially or fully replaced before volatility forces their hand.
Egg replacement, or the use of an egg substitute, is not a one-size-fits-all solution. Different applications rely on eggs for different functions, from structure to emulsification or binding. As a result, manufacturers are increasingly taking a more nuanced approach to egg replacement blends for baking.
By evaluating formulations earlier, teams can help stabilize formulation costs before market conditions shift, creating flexibility when volatility returns.
Plant-based egg replacement options for long-term stability
GPC offers a plant-based egg replacement portfolio designed to help manufacturers match egg functionality needs while supporting predictable performance, flexibility, and more stable formulation costs.
Chickpea-based
PURE-PULSE™ MB100-CP Egg Replacement Blend is a chickpea-based egg replacement solution developed for applications where allergen-friendly labeling and predictable sourcing are priorities. Designed to replace dried whole eggs, MB100-CP supports manufacturers with reliable baking performance across a range of bakery applications.
- 1:1 replacement for whole egg
- Allergen-friendly, Non-GMO, and vegetarian ingredients
- Longer shelf life than liquid eggs
- North American sourcing
Soy-based
PURE-PULSE™ BLUE100 Whole Egg Replacer is a soy-based egg replacement blend used in a wide range of sweet baked goods where consistent structure, flavor, and emulsification are required. With a long history of commercial use, BLUE100 helps manufacturers manage egg costs while maintaining finished product quality.
- 1:1 replacement for whole egg
- Vegetarian, Non-GMO ingredients
- Longer shelf life than liquid eggs
- North American sourcing
PURE-PULSE™ BLUE155 Emulsifier Blend helps formulators maintain finished product quality while improving flexibility and cost management.
- Vegetarian, Non-GMO ingredients
- Longer shelf life than liquid eggs
- North American sourcing
Together, these GPC plant-based options enable manufacturers to get ahead of recurring egg price volatility with egg replacement strategies aligned to application needs and long-term cost planning.
Planning for what's next
Egg prices may be stable today, but volatility remains a defining feature of the category. Manufacturers that explore and validate alternative ingredient strategies, including soy- and chickpea-based options, are better positioned to navigate future shifts with confidence.
Learn how chickpea- and soy-based egg replacement blends can help you reduce exposure to egg price volatility at grainprocessing.com.
Sources
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)
Consumer Price Index – Average Price Data: Eggs, Grade A, Large (per dozen)
BLS CPI data shows retail egg prices rising from approximately $2.00–$2.20 per dozen in early 2022 to over $5.00 per dozen in 2023, with elevated volatility continuing into 2024–2025.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Consumer Price Index, Average Price Data
https://www.bls.gov/cpi/
USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)
Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) Situation Reports
USDA APHIS reports document ongoing outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza beginning in 2022, resulting in the depopulation of tens of millions of commercial egg-laying hens across multiple U.S. states, with continued impacts reported in 2024 and 2025.
Source: USDA APHIS – Avian Influenza Information
https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/animalhealth/animal-disease-information/avian
PURE-PULSE™ is a trademark of Grain Processing Corporation.