Israelis to Pay 16% More for Eggs, Tax on Sweet Drinks on the Way Out

By Hamodia Staff

YERUSHALAYIM — The price of eggs in Israel is set to leap upward by 15.9% as of February 1, the Agriculture Ministry announced on Tuesday, citing a global increase in prices.

A carton of a dozen large eggs will cost NIS 13.97 ($4.10), up from its current price of NIS 12.05 ($3.60).

A pack of extra large eggs will cost NIS 15.19 ($4.50) instead of NIS 13.10 ($3.90), while medium-sized eggs will cost NIS 12.89 ($3.80) instead of NIS 11.15 ($3.30).

The ministry said in a statement that the price increases correspond with production costs as of June 2021. It justified the move as necessary to ensure steady production and prevent shortages, blaming it on soaring global costs caused by the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The statement added that it was not viable to supplement local produce with imported eggs due to a global outbreak of avian flu.

The prices, which are regulated by the government, last increased by 6.5% in July 2022. Before that, they were raised by 1.44% in 2019.

Meanwhile, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich published an order canceling a tax on sweetened drinks passed by the Bennett-Lapid-Liberman government, according to media reports.

The tax, which went into effect in January 2022, was opposed by the chareidi community, on the grounds that it would make it harder for large families on a small budget. Consumers were forced to pay up to an extra NIS 1.07 ($0.32) per liter for drinks with high sugar content. Beverages with lower sugar content are taxed at a lower rate.

Smotrich had promised to cancel the tax, as well as one on plastic disposable plates and cutlery, which was resented as discriminatory for the same reason.