Waffle House Implemented A 50-Cent Surcharge Per Egg Effective February 3, 2025,

     Waffle House implemented a 50-cent surcharge per egg effective February 3, 2025, citing a nationwide egg shortage caused by the ongoing bird flu (HPAI) outbreak.

• Reason: The highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) has led to the culling of over 108 million birds since 2022, including 17 million egg-laying hens in late 2024 alone. This has driven wholesale egg prices to record highs, with a dozen large, grade-A eggs reaching $4.15 in December 2024 (up 13.7% from November).
• Scope: The surcharge applies to all egg-containing menu items at Waffle House’s 2,100 locations.
• Temporary Measure: The chain emphasized this is a “targeted surcharge” rather than a menu-wide price hike and will adjust or remove it based on market conditions.

     The USDA projects egg prices could rise another 20% in 2025 due to continued supply constraints