Consumer Responses to Rising Egg Prices and Limited Availability in the U.S., with a Focus on California and Nevada: A Systematic Review and Narrative Synthesis

Between 2022 and 2025, egg prices in the United States rose sharply, reaching an average of $5.90 per dozen in early 2025 due to compounded effects from Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), inflation, regulatory changes, and supply chain constraints. This systematic review synthesizes consumer behavioral responses to egg price volatility and limited availability, focusing on income-level disparities, ethnic and regional differences, and substitution strategies. Following PRISMA guidelines, 41 peer-reviewed studies, market surveys, and government reports (2020–2025) were reviewed, with emphasis on California and Nevada due to their contrasting socioeconomic and regulatory environments. Key findings reveal that lower-income households in both states disproportionately reduced egg consumption or substituted with lower-cost protein alternatives such as legumes, canned fish, or nut butters. In contrast, high-income and urban populations shifted to plant-based commercial egg alternatives. Ethnic minority communities, particularly Black and Hispanic populations, showed greater price sensitivity and were more likely to modify food purchasing habits. Media exposure further shaped consumer sentiment, with reports of panic buying and perceived scarcity. Findings highlight the need for improved public education on affordable, nutritionally equivalent substitutes and equitable food policy interventions to mitigate future disruptions in protein access. Keywords Egg inflation, egg shortage, consumer behavior, substitution, California food access, Nevada food insecurity, PRISMA review.