Grocery chains across the country are placing limits on egg sales as shortages persist, forcing customers to ration their purchases. Stores including Costco, Trader Joe’s, and Sprouts Farmers Market have implemented restrictions as shelves empty faster than they can be restocked.
Egg supplies have been strained due to mass poultry culling efforts following bird flu outbreaks. Since 2022, more than 148 million birds have been euthanized, a move officials claim is necessary to prevent the spread of the virus. However, the aggressive response has drastically reduced production, leaving retailers scrambling to meet demand.
Some stores are now enforcing strict limits. Trader Joe’s has set a one-dozen-per-customer rule, while Whole Foods has capped sales at three cartons per person. Sprouts Farmers Market has restricted purchases to four dozen eggs per transaction, advising customers that availability could remain unpredictable for weeks.
In Missouri and Illinois, at least 60 grocery stores have imposed limits on egg sales. Customers in these states have reported seeing bare shelves and long lines as shoppers rush to grab what’s available. Videos shared online show cartons disappearing within minutes of being stocked.
Prices have surged, with the cost of a dozen eggs now averaging $3.82—more than double what it was in 2020. Some locations have reported cartons selling for as much as $9, prompting restaurant chains like Waffle House to add a 50-cent surcharge per egg to offset costs.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has warned that the situation is unlikely to improve soon, with egg prices projected to rise another 20% this year. Despite mounting frustrations from consumers, officials continue to order mass poultry cullings as the primary method to contain bird flu.
