Cape Town – Due to an outbreak of avian flu in South Africa, the SA Poultry Association (Sapa) is reportedly diverting table eggs from industrial customers and bakeries to store shelves to address egg shortages.
According to The Citizen, Sapa does not plan to import table eggs but is focusing on importing liquid and powder eggs for industrial use while channeling the table eggs originally intended for industrial purposes back to consumers.
“We have reduced our cross border exports and we will fast track the importation of liquid and powder eggs for industrial purposes and then channel back those table eggs that were meant for industrial purposes to the shelves for the consumers,” the report quoted Abongile Balarane, spokesperson for Sapa, as saying.
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Liquid and powder eggs are processed forms of eggs used in bakeries and do not have shells.
Despite the avian flu outbreak, eggs and poultry available to South African consumers are considered safe to eat.
Some grocery stores are experiencing empty shelves for eggs, with retailers like Woolworths rationing egg purchases.
The government is also exploring egg imports from various markets worldwide to alleviate the egg shortage.
South Africa already has import relationships with countries like Brazil, the US, and Argentina, which supply bone-in chicken imports to the local market.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
