Waffle House, a beloved American breakfast chain, has recently introduced a new surcharge on eggs, a move linked to the ongoing bird flu crisis affecting poultry across the country.
Known for its affordable meals, the Georgia-based restaurant, with over 2,000 locations nationwide, announced a 50-cent surcharge per egg across all its menu items, signaling how widespread the egg shortage has become.
Temporary Surcharge Amid Nationwide Egg Shortage
The company described this surcharge as a “temporary targeted surcharge” rather than a broad price increase.
Waffle House reassured its customers that the price adjustment was necessary to maintain the quality of their meals.
The chain confirmed that its commitment to using “quality, fresh-cracked, Grade A Large eggs” would remain intact, despite the higher cost.
Waffle House expressed understanding of the difficulties consumers and restaurants are facing due to the egg shortage.
The restaurant chain has stated that it will continue to monitor egg prices and may adjust or remove the surcharge depending on market conditions.
Bird Flu’s Toll on Egg Supply Chains
The surge in egg prices is directly related to the ongoing H5N9 bird flu outbreak, which began in 2022.
The virus has caused massive disruptions in the poultry industry.
Any time the virus is detected on a farm, the entire flock is slaughtered to prevent further spread.
Since the outbreak started, more than 145 million chickens, turkeys, and other birds have been killed, with the majority being egg-laying hens.
The outbreak has put pressure on egg supply chains, driving prices up significantly.
Large commercial egg farms, which typically house over a million chickens, have seen supply crunches from just a few infections.
The situation has worsened with new cage-free egg laws in various states, which have further strained the market.
Rising Egg Prices and Retailer Adjustments
The cost of eggs has skyrocketed, with a dozen eggs more than doubling in price since the summer of 2023.
In December of last year, egg prices hit a near-record high of $4.15 per dozen, just short of the $4.82 record set two years prior.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture predicts that egg prices will continue to rise, potentially increasing another 20 percent this year.
Wholesale prices have already risen sharply.
For instance, the wholesale price of large cartons of eggs in New York increased by 39 cents, reaching $7.62 per dozen, according to USDA data.
Other regions, such as the Midwest and California, have also experienced similar increases.
Egg Prices Impacting the Average American Consumer
The rising cost of eggs is outpacing inflation, putting additional strain on American households already grappling with high food prices.
Major retailers like Publix and Lidl have introduced limits on egg purchases, and many grocery stores are seeing empty shelves.
The surge in egg prices has become a headache for the Biden administration, with some critics pointing to its policies as a contributing factor.
At a recent press briefing, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt addressed the egg shortage issue, clarifying that the administration had directed the mass culling of chickens to control the spread of bird flu, but she did not mention the impact of the virus itself on the egg shortage.
The egg price dilemma has now become a point of contention in political circles, further complicating efforts to bring down grocery costs for American consumers.
This article was published on TDPel Media. Thanks for reading!Share on Facebook «||» Share on Twitter «||» Share on Reddit «||» Share on LinkedIn