Switzerland Today – SWI swissinfo.ch

Many shops have put up posters warning of a shortage of Swiss eggs.

If you’re planning to dye or hide eggs this Easter, you may want to plan ahead. Swiss eggs are currently in short supply, with shelves noticeably emptier than usual. Imports are helping to compensate for the shortfall in domestic production.

Each year, demand for eggs surges in the run-up to Easter, so this situation is not unusual. However, this year’s shortage is exacerbated by rising overall egg consumption. Once blamed for raising cholesterol, eggs have since been rehabilitated as a healthy food. More importantly, in times of inflation, eggs remain a much cheaper alternative to meat.

Logically, one might assume that increasing production would solve the issue. But it’s not that simple. “Expanding domestic production is very complex – it’s expensive and requires significant effort and time. Obtaining planning permission for a new henhouse takes two or three years if all goes well, or even up to ten years,” explains Daniel Würgler, president of the GalloSuisse egg producers’ association.

Switzerland isn’t alone in facing supply problems. The United States, severely affected by avian flu since 2022, has seen egg prices more than double. In Europe, France has been particularly affected, with egg consumption rising sharply over the past decade.