NEW YORK — A number of grocery stores, including Trader Joe’s, are placing restrictions on the quantity of eggs that customers can purchase due to a decline in supply stemming from the ongoing outbreak of bird flu. This has led to a national trend of implementing purchase limits on eggs.
Trader Joe’s has announced that customers can only buy one carton of eggs each day at all of its locations across the U.S. The grocery chain expressed its intention behind this decision, stating, “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.”
Recently, images of signage regarding egg purchase restrictions have circulated online, with many consumers and local news outlets observing limits at various stores such as Costco, Whole Foods, Kroger, and Aldi. The timeline for when these limits were implemented is not entirely clear, and it’s worth noting that they might not be consistent across the entire nation. For instance, Kroger clarified that while it does not have a broad national policy on egg limits, some of its regional branches are advising customers to purchase no more than two dozen eggs at one time.
Walmart also reported that there are no national limits on egg purchases except for large orders, specifically limiting 60-count cartons to two per customer. In a statement, Walmart acknowledged the strained supply situation, emphasizing their efforts to collaborate with suppliers to satisfy customer demand while keeping prices competitive.
Costco has confirmed that it restricts purchases to three packages of eggs, which usually come in either two-dozen or four-dozen quantities. Meanwhile, certain Target stores have displayed notices indicating supplier shortages, yet these do not specify limits on purchases. Further inquiries were made to Target for clarification.
The current avian influenza outbreak has seen farmers forced to cull millions of chickens each month, leading to U.S. egg prices more than doubling compared to last summer. As of December, the average price per dozen eggs was recorded at $4.15, and projections from the Agriculture Department anticipate prices could rise an additional 20% in the upcoming year, creating potential challenges for retailers with Easter approaching.
In addition to grocery store limits, consumers are beginning to feel the pinch of rising egg prices in dining establishments. Recently, Waffle House announced it would implement a surcharge of 50 cents per egg on all menu items, reflecting the larger trend of increasing prices in the egg market.
