India, April 4 -- Few things unnerve politicians more than rising food prices.

The egg is a staple of American breakfasts, with the average citizen consuming more than 280 annually. So, when prices rose to $5 (about Rs.415) per dozen in December 2022, up from $1.50 (about Rs.113) in 2021, leaders were anxious. Prices fell in 2023, before rising again at the tail end of 2024.

In fact, comparing 2024 and 2020 prices shows that the average American family shelled out $1,600 more on eggs a year. It's no wonder inflation was a hot-button topic in the election.

Egg prices have been a subject of conversation historically. Journalist Diane Toops, in her fascinating book Eggs: A Global History, writes of a 19th-century Methodist clergyman's acc...