Waffle House diners are now paying a little more for their meals. The chain has introduced a 50-cent surcharge per egg due to the ongoing bird flu outbreak and its impact on suppliers.
This move comes as the country grapples with one of the largest bird flu outbreaks in over a decade, which, as previously reported by The Dallas Express, is driving egg prices to record highs.
According to recent USDA data, avian influenza has impacted over 22.7 million birds in the past month alone.
The 24/7 restaurant chain announced earlier this week that the surcharge applies to all menu items containing eggs as of February 1. The chain’s standard two-egg breakfast, which includes toast and a side, is now listed at $7.75 on menus, reflecting the new surcharge.
“While we hope these price fluctuations will be short-lived we cannot predict how long this shortage will last,” the company told AP News.
The nationwide egg shortage, caused by the H5N1 strain of bird flu, has increased food prices nationwide. The average cost of a dozen eggs hit $4.15 in December of last year, though it still falls short of the all-time high of $4.82 set two years ago.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture projects that egg prices could rise another 20% this year.
In addition to the impact on egg prices, the virus has raised concerns about the potential for human infections. Last month, the first U.S. human fatality linked to bird flu was reported in Louisiana.
Since 2024, there have been 67 confirmed human cases, according to AP News.
During a recent press briefing, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt took aim at the Biden administration for the sharp rise in egg prices, attributing the increases to policies implemented under Biden’s cabinet, as previously covered by DX.
Leavitt said that egg prices have surged by more than 65% due to inflationary pressures during Biden’s tenure and also emphasized that the administration’s decision to cull more than 100 million chickens has had a significant negative effect on the supply chain.