U.S. Lawmakers Target Egg Rules to Lower Prices

A new bill in the U.S. Congress aims to cut the cost of eggs by changing federal food safety rules. The proposed "Lowering Egg Prices Act" would direct two key agencies—the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)—to rewrite their regulations for handling eggs. Supporters argue that current rules are too strict. They say updating these rules could allow more eggs to reach stores, increasing supply. A larger supply, in theory, would place downward pressure on prices for consumers. The effort comes as many households still feel the impact of high food costs. Egg prices, in particular, saw sharp increases in recent years due to disease outbreaks in poultry flocks and higher farm expenses. The bill does not specify which exact rules would change. Any revisions would need to maintain food safety standards while aiming to improve efficiency for producers.