Shoppers are facing new restrictions on egg purchases as grocery chains across the country enforce limits due to ongoing supply issues. Costco, Trader Joe’s, and Whole Foods have placed caps on how many cartons customers can buy as stores struggle to keep shelves stocked.
The supply problems stem from large-scale poultry euthanizations ordered by federal health officials. Since the first U.S. cases of the H5N1 bird flu strain in 2022, more than 148 million birds have been killed, leaving egg production severely impacted. As fewer eggs reach store shelves, retailers have been forced to restrict sales to prevent stockpiling.
Retailers have introduced strict purchase limits to manage the crisis. Trader Joe’s now allows customers to buy only one dozen eggs per day, while Whole Foods has limited sales to three cartons per visit. Sprouts Farmers Market has set a cap of four dozen per transaction, warning that shortages could last for weeks.
In Missouri and Illinois alone, 60 stores have adopted similar rationing policies. Customers report that eggs are selling out almost as soon as they are restocked. Social media videos show shoppers rushing to grab cartons, with some locations unable to keep up with demand.
Egg prices have skyrocketed, reaching an average of $3.82 per dozen—more than twice the cost in 2020. In some areas, shoppers have reported prices climbing above $9 per carton. Restaurants like Waffle House have responded by adding a 50-cent surcharge per egg to adjust for rising costs.
Government officials predict that prices will continue to rise, with another 20% increase expected this year. The federal response has remained the same, with mass poultry culling continuing despite the ongoing strain on consumers.
