Millions of egg-laying hens have been lost due to the bird flu, causing egg production to slow and prices to skyrocket. Here’s what to know about whether eggs are safe to eat — and what to try if grocery store shelves are empty.

Researchers have stressed that bird flu still poses a minimal risk to the general public, though that may change as the virus continues to circulate and potentially mutate. But the many empty shelves in stores and higher prices on the eggs that people can find have raised concerns among consumers about the safety of the egg supply.

As bird flu continues to spread across the United States, questions have emerged about the risk of contracting the virus from milk and eggs. Additionally, hundreds of dairy cow herds have been affected,