Egg prices are soaring, and panic is spreading. The situation feels eerily familiar to the chaos during the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead of toilet paper, it’s eggs that have become the latest shortage. Supply chains are stressed, and businesses are struggling to cope with rising demand and shrinking supply.
Eggs are in short supply across the country, and it’s causing big headaches for shoppers. As demand skyrockets, popular grocery chains Costco and Trader Joe’s are stepping in with new purchase limits.
Trader Joe’s takes action
Trader Joe’s has imposed a strict limit. Customers can only buy one dozen eggs per day. The chain says this move is to help ensure everyone has a fair shot at getting eggs. A spokesperson told NBC News, “We hope these limits will help as many customers as possible.”
Costco follows suit
Costco is also feeling the pressure. While there’s no official company-wide limit yet, some locations have set their own. According to reports, some Costco stores are limiting customers to just three cartons of eggs. This change was confirmed by several TikTok users who shared their experiences online.
Shoppers hoarding eggs
In parts of the country where no limits are set, things look a little different. Shoppers are seen loading up their carts with dozens of egg cartons. One TikTok user shared that when a fresh batch of eggs arrived at their local Costco, they were gone in just 10 minutes. It’s clear: eggs are flying off the shelves.
Egg prices soar, hitting profit margins
Bo Davis, CEO of MarginEdge, a software company that tracks restaurant purchases, shares his concern about the skyrocketing egg prices. “Between early 2024 and late fall, egg prices went up by 40%,” Davis said. “Since November, they’ve been climbing nonstop, week after week.” This price surge is hurting restaurants, especially those focused on breakfast and bakery items, where eggs are a core ingredient.
It’s not common for one ingredient to affect an entire industry, but eggs are everywhere. Davis explained that restaurants can’t just switch out eggs like they might with salmon or other specialty items. Instead, they adjust specials, tweak server pitches, and sometimes even shrink portion sizes. But in the end, they may have no choice but to increase prices or absorb losses.
Waffle House adds egg surcharge
Even big chains like Waffle House are feeling the heat. The breakfast giant, which serves an impressive 272 million eggs per year, recently announced a 50-cent surcharge on its egg-based menu items. Despite this price hike, eggs remain in high demand, and customers continue ordering their favorite egg dishes.
Demand keeps climbing
Normally, egg sales follow a seasonal trend, peaking during the holiday months and fall baking season. But recently, demand for eggs has remained steady year-round. Consumers and manufacturers alike are craving more eggs, but the supply simply can’t keep up.
Bird flu worsens the shortage
The egg shortage crisis isn’t just about prices—it’s also about a devastating bird flu outbreak that has ravaged flocks since early 2022. The avian flu has led to the euthanization of over 100 million hens from commercial table-egg facilities. This has left the egg industry with 8% fewer laying hens than just three years ago. The impact of this epidemic has sent egg prices soaring.
Egg prices surge across the board
According to data from the US Department of Agriculture, large Grade A eggs have increased by 187% since January 2024. Other egg products like dried, frozen, and liquid eggs have seen even higher price jumps—up to 208%. Restaurants are doing their best to manage the situation, but grocery stores are passing on the higher costs to customers.
Consumers stockpile eggs
Despite the soaring prices, consumers aren’t backing down. They’re buying eggs whenever they can find them, even at inflated prices. Amanda Oren, a VP at Relex Solutions, believes this trend may be linked to the rise of GLP-1 medications, which have boosted demand for protein-rich foods like eggs. As a result, people are snapping up eggs to avoid missing out on a scarce resource.
While some consumers are turning to plant-based egg alternatives, the demand for real eggs remains high. Oren observed that sales of plant-based replacements are up, but eggs are still the preferred choice when they’re available. People aren’t waiting for prices to drop—they’re buying eggs as soon as they see them on the shelves.
The egg shortage saga continues
As the egg shortage drags on, the demand shows no signs of slowing. Whether at grocery stores or in restaurants, eggs remain a hot commodity. Prices may keep climbing, but the scramble for eggs is far from over.
Consumers are reacting just like they did during the COVID-19 pandemic—panic buying and stocking up whenever eggs are in stock. With supply chains stretched thin, it’s anyone’s guess when the situation will stabilize. But one thing’s for sure: eggs are in the spotlight, and the scramble to find them is real.
