The soaring price of eggs has alarmed consumers and the agriculture industry, and practically everyone in Washington is pointing fingers in various directions to direct blame.

Some stores limit the number of cartons each client may buy. And everywhere, consumers are shocked by the high prices. "They're getting expensive," 26-year-old student Samantha Lopez told AFP as she shopped in a supermarket in the US capital.

The escalating cost of eggs is once again straining American wallets, with scarcity adding to the woes. As avian flu impacts poultry, prices are expected to rise further, affecting households and industries alike.