The risk of bird flu to humans is low, but eating undercooked eggs or chicken could increase your chances of exposure to infection and germs.

The Department of Agriculture warned egg prices may increase more than 20% this year, after December saw a year-over-year increase of 36.8%.

The humble egg, one of nature’s perfect foods, a self-packaged, relatively inexpensive source of protein that can serve as a lowly hangover remedy or help a souffle rise to heavenly heights, is also a great teacher. It’s helping Americans understand how a free-market economy works: When demand is high and supply is low, prices rise.