Groceries and restaurants throughout the country are taking measures to limit demand for eggs.
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If you can even find eggs at your local store, you may not be allowed to stockpile them. Consumers are reporting that, in addition to skyrocketing egg prices, many major retailers have posted signs limiting the number of cartons of eggs each person can buy.
The reason eggs are limited right now has to do with the outbreak of avian flu.
“As avian flu spreads, farmers with infected chickens must cull their flocks,” explains Sara Bratager, Senior Food Safety & Traceability Scientist at the Institute of Food Technologists’ Global Food Traceability Center. “Fewer chickens means fewer eggs, which in turn reduces availability and drives up prices for consumers.”
Egg prices hit a record high in the U.S. in January, reaching an average of $4.95 per dozen, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The previous high was in January of 2023, when eggs averaged $4.82 per dozen.
Egg Restrictions at Grocery Stores
Some stores have posted notes of apology about the egg supply and the higher prices. Others are telling customers there’s a limit to what they can buy.
If you’re a big fan of Trader Joe’s, for example, you can only put one package of eggs in your cart right now.
“Due to ongoing issues with the supply of eggs, we are currently limiting egg purchases to one dozen per customer per day in all Trader Joe’s stores across the country,” Nakia Rohde, Trader Joe’s Public Relations Manager, tells Simply Recipes. “We hope these limits will help to ensure that as many of our customers who need eggs are able to purchase them when they visit Trader Joe’s.”
Costco is limiting consumers to three packages of eggs per purchase, a spokesperson confirmed to CNN. Signs on the refrigerated egg case say, “Due to limited supply please: Limit 3 eggs.” Sam’s Club is restricting shoppers to two packages of each kind of egg on the shelves, reports NBC, and Walmart is limiting bulk buyers to two packs of 60-count eggs.
At some chains, only certain locations are limiting eggs. Customers can only buy three cartons at Whole Food Stores in New York City and Miami, according to CNBC. Other chains, like Kroger and Aldi, have a two-dozen limit in some locales.
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Egg Surcharges at Restaurants
It’s not just stores that have felt the impact of the egg crisis. Recently, Waffle House restaurants announced a 50-cent surcharge per egg. The added cost applies to any egg-related item on its menu. There are signs on Waffle House doors that read: “Due to the nationwide rise in cost of eggs, we’ve added a temporary 50¢ per egg surcharge. Thank you for understanding.”
“While we hope these price fluctuations will be short-lived, we cannot predict how long this shortage will last,” the company said in a statement.
An Eggless Easter?
As egg prices remain high and supplies low, demand for eggs is set to increase in the coming months. Egg sales typically skyrocket around Easter, which falls on April 20 this year. Yet, relief is not yet in sight. "It's hard to predict how long egg shortages will be an issue,” Bratager says. “As long as the avian flu continues to spread, consumers will face difficulties finding eggs."
