Egg farmers say supply not at risk from bird flu after Coles imposes two-carton limit on shoppers

The peak body representing egg producers, Australian Eggs, said egg supply was not at risk of shortages and purchase limits ‘can send the wrong message to consumers’. Photograph: Ellen Smith/The Guardian

Egg farmers have rushed to reassure consumers that there is no shortage of eggs after the supermarket chain Coles announced a two-carton limit in response to the avian influenza outbreak in Victoria.

The highly pathogenic H7N3 strain of bird flu has been detected on four farms in western Victoria, and another highly pathogenic strain, H7N9, has been detected at a fifth farm. More than half a million chickens have been euthanised in an effort to stop the spread of the disease.