(The Hill) — A leading animal rights organization is pointing to high egg prices in a push for President Donald Trump to swap yolks for spuds at this year’s White House Easter Egg Roll.
In a letter to the president and Melania Trump released Tuesday, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) President Ingrid Newkirk shared the group’s suggestion to “replace the tired old Easter Egg Roll” with the “Make America Great Easter Potato Roll.”
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“With eggs scarce as hen’s teeth and egg prices at an all-time high (and projected to rise 41 percent more this year), this would be a terrific way to put America’s potato farmers first and set a winning example for citizens looking for an affordable, protein-rich option,” Newkirk wrote.
“Easter has to do with Christian values, not chicken factories. In starch contrast, a potato roll would absolutely be a reason to rejoice,” the letter from PETA said.
When is the annual White House Easter Egg Roll?
The White House announced last week that its annual Easter Egg Roll — a tradition that dates back to 1878 — is scheduled to take place on the South Lawn on April 21.
The White House Easter Egg Roll begins on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, Monday, April 1, 2024. Thunder and lightning delayed the start of the Easter egg roll at the White House for 90 minutes on Monday, but the event eventually kicked off under gray skies and internment rain. More than 40,000 people, 10,000 more than last year, were expected to participate in the event. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
“Amid an eggstinction caused by the worst avian flu outbreak in history, in which at least 166 million farmed birds — most of them egg-laying hens — have been wiped out, hosting an Easter Egg Roll that typically uses 30,000 eggs seems a bit eggcessive,” Newkirk said in the pun-filled message to the president.
As part of the appeal for potatoes, which PETA also made last year to then-first lady Jill Biden, the group touted the benefits: “They are the most popular vegetable in our country and can be safely dyed, allowing for spudtacular traditional activities, such as rolling, seeking, and decorating them.”
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“We urged the previous administration to take a crack at uprooting this Easter tradition,” Newkirk wrote to Trump, “but we have faith that your administration can actually get it done. We are standing by to provide the potatoes for the event if that pleases you.”
Why is there an egg shortage?
Roughly 18.8 million commercial egg layers were affected in January by the bird flu outbreak, which is the highest monthly total since the outbreak started in 2022, according to the USDA. In January, egg prices rose to an average of $4.95 per dozen, which is up from about $2.50 in 2024.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture predicted in February that egg prices would increase by more than 40% this year due to a widespread bird flu outbreak.
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The optimistic view is that egg prices are volatile, meaning prices could come down in a hurry if the bird flu crisis gets under control. In Jan. 2023, the price for a dozen eggs soared to $4.82 per dozen before falling to $2.22 just six months later in June.
How are American consumers being affected by rising egg prices?
Major businesses have taken steps to fight increasing egg prices. Waffle House has added a $0.50 per egg surcharge to all of its menus. Denny’s is also adding an egg surcharge at some locations due to rising costs.
Meanwhile, grocers like Costco and Trader Joe’s are limiting the number of cartons customers can buy. For many Americans, this has served as a reminder that the fight against inflation isn’t over.
Broiler chickens, which are raised for meat, haven’t been hit nearly as hard by bird flu as egg-laying hens, which has kept chicken prices stable for now. Poultry prices are expected to remain largely unchanged in 2025, according to the USDA’s latest outlook.
