Egg purchases limited at U.S. commissaries in South Korea after bird flu outbreak

By

Ashley Bunch

OSAGE, IA – AUGUST 09: Chickens gather around a feeder at a farm on August 9, 2014 in Osage, Iowa. In retaliation for sanctions imposed on them, Russia announced a ban on food imports from the United States and other nations.Those sanctions had been imposed due to Russia’s support of separatists in Eastern Ukraine. The ban will last for a year and targets meat, fish, fruit, vegetable and milk products. The poultry industry in the United States, which exported over $300 million worth of food to Russia in 2013, is expected to be hit the hardest. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)

South Korea is facing one of the worst-ever outbreaks of bird flu and now commissaries are limiting customers to three cartons of U.S. eggs per purchase, according to Stars and Stripes. 

More than one million eggs have been imported by authorities from the United States to make up for the shortage of local eggs in South Korea, which has killed more than 33 million poultry since the first case was reported in November, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs told Stripes. 

“Because of the avian flu issue impacting locally produced eggs, a one carton limit on U.S. eggs was initiated by DeCA to ensure all authorized commissary patrons have access to available egg supplies,” spokesman Rick Brink said before the limit was raised to three cartons.

The price of U.S. eggs has not been affected, although locally produced eggs have gone up, he said.

Local eggs can be purchased with no limit.  However, local eggs are $2.33 compared to U.S. eggs, which were $1.69 at the Yongsan Garrison commissary in Seoul this week, Stripes reported. 

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Ashley Bunch