Waffle House Adds Egg Surcharge

A severe bird flu outbreak, identified as highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), has caused a dramatic increase in egg prices across the United States since 2022. The virus has infected approximately 150 million poultry across all 50 states, leading to the culling of millions of birds and creating significant supply challenges. In response to these unprecedented costs, Waffle House, a major restaurant chain, implemented a temporary 50-cent per egg surcharge at its 2,100 locations nationwide, effective February 3, 2025. This measure aims to offset the rising expense of eggs, which saw a 65.1% increase from December 2023 to December 2024, according to the United States — Bureau of Labor Statistics. The United States — United States Department of Agriculture forecasts an additional 20% increase in egg prices this year. The United States — Centers for Disease Control and Prevention continues to monitor the situation, including sporadic human infections, while maintaining that the public health risk remains low. The surcharge by Waffle House highlights the difficult decisions businesses are making to cope with the ongoing economic pressures from the bird flu crisis.