Mexico scrambles to beat egg shortage
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The Mexican government is battling an egg shortage and hoarding that have caused prices to spike in a country with the highest per-capita egg consumption on earth.
President Felipe Calderon and members of his Cabinet have announced about $227 million in emergency financing and commercial measures to restore production and replace about 11 million chickens slaughtered after a June outbreak of bird flu.
Calderon says he's sending inspectors to stop speculation that he blames for high prices, which have about doubled in recent weeks.
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Calderon said Friday that his government has already begun large-scale importation of eggs. He also said about 3 million hens were being sent to farms hit by the flu outbreak.