The United States is facing an egg crisis due to a bird flu outbreak that has led to the slaughter of 20 million chickens. With Easter just around the corner, the U.S. government has asked several countries, including Italy, for help. But the response was negative. "The U.S. embassy probed with farmers' associations and large producers about the possibility of buying eggs, but the response was negative," confirms Laura Facchetti, President of Coldiretti Brescia. Italy produces about 13 billion eggs a year, covering 97% of national needs. Per capita consumption is growing, reaching 224 in 2024. To export would mean altering this balance, with the risk of driving up prices. Even Brescia, which with its 2.8 million hens produces half a billion eggs a year (or 4% of national production), will not participate in the supply. This is not a retaliation for the duties announced by the U.S., stresses Facchetti: "We are waiting to understand their extent, but we are very concerned”.