In the latest update, a bird flu outbreak has caused Waffle House to implement a 50-cent surcharge per egg at its 2,100 locations due to egg prices reaching $4.15 per dozen. More than 17 million egg-laying hens have been culled in the last two months, leading to an anticipated 20% price increase this year.
This development translates to a scenario where consumers are encountering nationwide egg shortages and escalating prices, with a dozen eggs now priced as high as $5.29, double the summer 2023 rates. The CDC has confirmed 67 human infections and one fatality, despite the overall public health risk being deemed low.