In the UK, 12 large eggs cost £3.15.

$1 = £0.80, so £3.15 equates to $3.94. That's about 12% cheaper than the price you quoted in your article.

But we have no tax or VAT on food, and we're an island, so bird flu hasn't arrived here yet. (Our health inspectors are going mental testing stuff at the ports coming in from continental Europe to make sure we don't import infections).

Regarding protein - beans and lentils are a good source of protein.