With egg prices soaring and ongoing concerns of bird flu contamination, farm vendors in Carroll, Harford and Howard counties are selling more eggs than ever.

Egg producers blame the bird flu outbreak for driving prices to record highs, but critics believe giant companies are taking advantage of their market dominance to profit handsomely at the expense of budget-conscious egg buyers.

The industry, and most experts, squarely blame bird flu. But advocacy groups, Democratic lawmakers and a Federal Trade Commission member are calling for a government investigation.