Chicken eggs shortage is unsolved mystery

The Consumers’ Association of Penang (CAP) urged the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living and the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industries to resolve the supply shortage of chicken eggs immediately.

“Most of the grocers and public markets claimed that it has been difficult for them to get the supply since two months ago, thus, creating a concern on the supply shortage in the future. Chicken eggs is the cheapest source of protein in the market.

According to news reports, egg producers had opted to slaughter their egg layers before reaching maturity, thereby, resulting in an egg shortage.

The Special Task Force on Jihad Against Inflation has recently identified the high cost of chicken feed as being responsible for the chicken egg supply shortage. Why didn’t they consult chicken farmers earlier and take remedial action? If chicken farmers had given feedback, did the Task Force discussed with local feed producers on how to produce cheaper feed using palm kernel waste since the cost of feed is the main issue of contention? There have been ample studies pertaining the use of palm kernel cake as an animal feed ingredient since the 1980s.

Selangor announced that it was going to adopt the method of providing an alternative animal feed production basing on the research by the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia two years ago. The method has been implemented in Kedah and was found to have significantly reduce the cost of the feed.

CAP’s  survey found that chicken eggs are still available at the public markets and grocery stores around Gelugor, Bayan Baru, Jelutong, and Batu Lanchang. However, the grocers claimed that it is difficult for them to get their supply as the quantity received from  wholesalers are less than the traders at the markets.

In addition to the shortage of chicken eggs, CAP also found that some traders are selling lower grade fresh eggs, such as grade A and B as premium eggs(AA grade) which is sold for 66 cents per egg. For reference, grade A eggs have  been set at 45 cents per egg and grade B eggs for 43 cents.

CAP calls on the Enforcement Division of the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living to investigate this matter as average income earners will be badly affected by escalating prices of goods.

Immediate action should be taken to reduce and control the price of all goods.

Mohideen Abdul Kader
President
Consumers Association of Penang (CAP)

Press Statement, 6 December  2022