Egg prices in Japan have seen record highs, with an accelerating outbreak of the bird flu virus and authorities culling a record 16 million birds, which has negatively affected the restaurant industry.
Japan's Kyodo news agency quoted the Ministry of Agriculture as saying that egg-laying chickens make up to 90 percent of the birds culled, reducing the supply of eggs and causing prices to rise.
The bird flu virus has spread at an unprecedented pace since the season began in October, with 80 cases detected in poultry farms in 26 of the country's 47 provinces.
As of March 2, the wholesale price per kilogram of medium-sized eggs was 335 yen ($2.4) in Tokyo, the highest since 1993, when the process of providing official data began.
Concerns about an egg shortage are growing, with many restaurants choosing to suspend egg-based dishes.
The process is expected to take at least 6 months for the supply of eggs to return to previous levels.