Thieves in Pennsylvania have stolen over 100,000 eggs valued at $40,000 from a single grocer, Pete & Gerry's Organics in Greencastle, on February 1, according to the police.
The theft was targeted at a lorry, coinciding with a surge in egg prices due to a bird flu outbreak, leading to an unexpected increase in their costs. In response to this, the national chain Waffle House raised their egg prices.
Waffle House recently announced a temporary surcharge of $0.50 per egg for customers, attributing it to the unprecedented egg price escalation.
The price hike was significant, with an over 8% increase in December alone, as per the agency's data. The average price for a carton of eggs rose from $2.51 in December 2023 to $4.15 a year later, causing shortages in some stores.
While the bird flu epidemic has affected birds, cattle, and other animals in the US, human infections are exceptionally rare.