NEW YORK — The Waffle House restaurant chain is putting a 50 cent per egg surcharge in place because of the biggest bird flu outbreak in a decade.
The 24/7 restaurant said the resulting egg shortage led to a dramatic increase in its costs.
Bird flu is forcing farmers to slaughter millions of chickens a month, pushing U.S. egg prices to more than double their cost in the summer of 2023. It appears there may be no relief in sight with Easter approaching.
The average price per dozen eggs nationwide hit $4.15 in December. That is not quite as high as the $4.82 record set two years ago, but the Agriculture Department predicts egg prices will soar another 20% this year.
The Waffle House, a reliable source for a cheap breakfast, said its egg surcharge became effective this week and it applies menu-wide. The restaurant's two-egg breakfast, which comes with toast and a side, was listed at $7.75 on Tuesday.
"While we hope these price fluctuations will be short-lived, we cannot predict how long this shortage will last," the company said.
The company continues to monitor egg prices and said it will adjust or remove the surcharge as market conditions allow.
Last month, the first U.S. human fatality linked to bird flu was reported in Louisiana. Sixty-seven bird flu infections of humans have been confirmed in the U.S. since 2024, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The H5N1 bird flu has spread widely among wild birds, poultry, cows and other animals. Its growing presence in the environment increases the chances that people will be exposed and potentially contract it, officials said, though it remains rare.
Health officials urge anyone who has contact with sick or dead birds to take precautions, including respiratory and eye protection and gloves when handling poultry.
Waffle House, based in Georgia, has more than 1,900 locations in 25 states.
