At a Glance
- 2 million eggs are heading to Texas food banks as part of a legal settlement over pandemic price gouging.
- Cal-Maine Foods will deliver 50,000 dozen eggs to the DFW area alone.
- Attorney General Ken Paxton sued the company for raising egg prices by 300 percent during COVID-19.
- Why it matters: Families struggling with food costs will gain access to high-protein meals at no charge.
Two million eggs are on the way to Texas food banks. The delivery follows a state settlement with Cal-Maine Foods, Incorporated, after the company was accused of illegally hiking egg prices during the pandemic.
Settlement Details
Attorney General Ken Paxton filed suit against Cal-Maine Foods, alleging the company raised egg prices by roughly 300 percent at the height of COVID-19. The agreement requires the firm to supply food banks across Texas with free eggs instead of paying a cash penalty.
- 50,000 dozen eggs-about two million individual eggs-are earmarked for the Dallas-Fort Worth region.
- Shipments will reach food banks in Houston, San Antonio, the Rio Grande Valley, and other areas.
- Distribution totals are fixed by region, ensuring every major food bank receives a share.
North Texas Impact
The North Texas Food Bank expects one of the largest deliveries. Enrique Rodriguez, a spokesperson for the organization, said the timing is critical.
“It’s coming at a time when we’re trying to replenish ourselves for the folks that we serve, and this is going to go a long way to helping out our families,” Rodriguez said.
Rodriguez estimates the eggs could reach approximately 744,000 people connected to the food bank’s network.
“So these households, these people that have been trying to stretch every dollar that they can are now going to have access to high protein food,” Rodriguez added.
Partner Food Banks
The Tarrant Area Food Bank will also receive a large shipment. Officials there released a statement that reads in part:
“Families need healthy protein to stay nourished, yet it is often one of the hardest items for food banks to keep in stock due to high demand… Food banks continue to see longer lines and increased demand for emergency food assistance as Texans work to stretch their food dollars. Access to nutritious foods like eggs can ease this burden by helping families put balanced meals on the table…”
Statewide Distribution Chart
The Attorney General’s Office provided exact dozen counts for each food bank:
| Food Bank | Minimum Dozen Eggs |
|---|---|
| North Texas Food Bank | 30,000 |
| Houston Food Bank | 30,000 |
| Tarrant Area Food Bank | 20,000 |
| Central Texas Food Bank | 20,000 |
| San Antonio Food Bank | 20,000 |
| Food Bank of the Rio Grande Valley | 10,000 |
| East Texas Food Bank | 10,000 |
| El Pasoans Fighting Hunger Food Bank | 10,000 |
| Coastal Bend Food Bank | 5,000 |
| South Texas Food Bank | 5,000 |
| Southeast Texas Food Bank | 5,000 |
| South Plains Food Bank | 5,000 |
| High Plains Food Bank | 2,000 |
| West Texas Food Bank | 2,000 |
| Food Bank of West Central Texas | 2,000 |
| Food Bank of the Golden Crescent | 2,000 |
| Wichita Falls Area Food Bank | 2,000 |
Next Steps
Food banks and local pantries are coordinating storage and refrigeration logistics before handing the eggs out to families. Natalie A. Brooks reported for News Of Fort Worth that recipients will be notified once distribution schedules are finalized.
Paxton said his office will continue monitoring corporations for illegal price increases, signaling that additional enforcement actions could follow if other firms are found to have violated state pricing laws during emergencies.
