McDonald's announced recently that, beginning October 6, 2015, they will begin serving breakfast all day. The announcement has met with widespread enthusiasm from McDonald's aficionados but there is some concern about what further impact this might have on America's egg shortage. In the first half of 2015 48 million birds had to be destroyed because of a bird flu epidemic. The resulting deficit in production had driven prices up considerably. Egg prices per dozen are already a third more expensive than projected and may continue to rise far higher than the $2.59 national average. Bloomberg Business reported this week that restaurants and other food companies have already been struggling to get enough eggs and that McDonald's move to serve breakfast all day will put a greater strain on the supply. McD's CEO, Steve Easterbrook, identified the move as an effort to revive domestic sales. Domestic sales at McD's have been trending downward for some time now. Tom Elam, president of agricultural research firm FarmEcon LLC, said, "It's a net increase in demand for shell eggs in what's already a tight market situation. It just adds more pressure."

So, Uncle Ned wants to know: What, if anything, should be done about McD's decision to increase its use of eggs? Do we let the free market decide? Do we regulate their ability to do so?

Ned
(aka: "Stupid Sexy Flanders")