Trader Joe’s and Costco Restrict Egg Purchases as Prices Soar

A nationwide egg shortage, driven by a prolonged bird flu outbreak, has led major retailers to impose limits on customer purchases.

Trader Joe’s is limiting egg purchases to one dozen per customer per day across all U.S. locations to manage supply shortages.
Costco has implemented similar restrictions, with reports of limits of up to three cartons per customer at some locations.
The ongoing bird flu outbreak, which began in 2022, has significantly disrupted egg production by forcing the culling of infected poultry flocks.
Egg prices have surged dramatically, with the average cost of a dozen Grade A large eggs reaching $4.15 in December and some regions reporting prices as high as $12 per dozen.
The restaurant industry is also feeling the impact, with Waffle House adding a $0.50 surcharge per egg, while Cracker Barrel has opted not to pass on additional costs to customers.