Food Bank of Iowa gets major egg donation as cost of eggs limits what’s on its shelves

Grocery stores aren’t the only ones hurting from rising egg prices. So is the Food Bank of Iowa.

But the organization serving about half of the state’s 99 counties said it caught a “lucky break” after receiving a major donation from Norwalk manufacturer Michael Foods. The Minnesota-based company, with plants across the nation including one in Iowa, donated 72 pallets, or 84,000 pounds worth of pre-cooked eggs and egg products.

That includes four different kinds of egg patties and two varieties of French toast products.

“With tight supply and high egg prices looming indefinitely, Food Bank of Iowa and the neighbors it serves have caught a lucky break – thanks to a generous donation from Michael Foods,” the organization with 700 partner schools, shelters and food pantries, said in a news release.

The food bank is slated to receive seven more food pallets from Michael Foods, the nation’s largest producer of processed eggs, the release said.

More:Egg prices continue to climb. How do Iowa grocery stores compare to other states?

“This significant donation could not have come at a better time,” Emily Shearer, senior manager of food acquisition and advocacy, said in the release. “These egg entrees not only provide a delicious source of protein, but they’re easy for anyone to prepare. And repackaging them into family-friendly portions is a terrific project for our volunteers.

“We are grateful to Michael Foods for once again sharing their surplus of restaurant-quality food with Iowans facing hunger.”

What about fresh eggs?

The Food Bank of Iowa still has fresh eggs but largely relies on egg producers’ donations. That in turn means partners are limited to the number of cases they can receive, Annette Hacker, the organization’s spokesperson, said in an email.

“And even on the best day (when avian flu isn’t an issue), we can always use more fresh eggs,” Hacker said.

More:See where bird flu has caused the most devastation in Iowa and across America

Why are eggs so expensive?

Hacker explained the food bank would purchase eggs to replenish its inventory in years past but current prices are “the highest we’ve ever seen.” Nowadays, a dozen eggs can cost $6.50, Shearer said. That’s “cost prohibitive,” Hacker added.

Last month, the cost of eggs soared 15.2%, the latest in a flurry of increases amid a two-year bird flu outbreak. Bacon jumped 4.1%; fresh fish and seafood, 1.6%; and chicken, 0.3%.

“Although we have weathered low egg supplies due to avian flu in the past, the situation this year feels much more dire,” Hacker said.

F. Amanda Tugade covers social justice issues for the Des Moines Register. Email her at [email protected] or follow her on X@writefelissa.