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2w ago

Waffle House Ends 50-Cent Egg Surcharge as Wholesale Prices Stabilize

USDA biosecurity funding paired with increased imports has brought wholesale egg costs down to roughly $2.56 per dozen

A menu in a Waffle House restaurant displays a sticker advising customers of a 50 cent price hike per egg "due to the nationwide rise in cost of eggs," in Houston, Texas, on February 6, 2025. A variant of avian influenza circulating widely among birds -- and which has caused severe symptoms in some humans -- has been detected in US dairy cattle for the first time, authorities have confirmed. The bird flu impacts on poultry farms have led to mass culling of flocks and a nationwide shortage of eggs. (Photo by Gianrigo MARLETTA / AFP)
A menu in a Waffle House restaurant displays a sticker advising costumers of a 50 cent price hike per egg "due to the nationwide rise in cost of eggs," in Houston, Texas, on February 6, 2025.
In this photo illustration, eggs are displayed on a table on February 05, 2025 in Austin, Texas.

Overview

  • Waffle House quietly removed its 50-cent per egg surcharge on June 2 and announced the change publicly on social media in early July.
  • The fee was introduced in February after a highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreak forced the culling of tens of millions of egg-laying hens.
  • Wholesale egg prices peaked at a record $6.23 per dozen in March but have since fallen about 61% to around $2.56 per dozen.
  • The USDA invested $1 billion in farm biosecurity measures and boosted egg imports to offset domestic shortages, contributing to the price decline.
  • The chain serves roughly 272 million eggs annually, more than half of which come from Rose Acre Farms, highlighting its exposure to biosecurity risks at major suppliers.