U.S. chicken producers are seeking permission from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to sell their surplus eggs, currently numbering 400 million, to food producers to help reduce the high egg prices caused by the bird flu outbreak and inflation. The FDA has been approached with a petition from the National Chicken Council to amend a 2009 rule that prevents eggs from the meat industry from being used for human consumption due to food safety concerns. However, the United Egg Producers trade group has expressed opposition to the proposal, citing the need to maintain food safety standards. The outcome of the FDA's review of the petition could potentially mitigate the impact on consumers during the Easter season.