Waffle House Adds Egg Surcharge of 50 Cents

Waffle House said Tuesday it's scrambling to meet the rising costs and shortages of eggs nationwide by adding a temporary surcharge of 50 cents per egg.

The 24-hour breakfast chain, based out of Norcross, Georgia, said in a statement that rather than raising prices across its full menu, it will implement a "temporary targeted surcharge tied to the unprecedented rise in egg prices," reported CBS News.  

The company added that it hopes the price fluctuations will be "short-lived," but "we cannot predict how long this shortage will last."

"Consumers and restaurants are being forced to make difficult decisions," Waffle House, which has added stickers to its menu about the 50-cent surcharge, said of the price hike. 

Waffle House, which has about 2,100 locations in 25 states, said eggs are the item most often ordered. According to the restaurant chain's website, 272 million eggs are served every year, compared with 124 million waffles and 153 million servings of hash browns. 

The U.S. Department of Agriculture said the price of eggs will rise by 20% this year because of the bird flu, formerly known as HPAI, or highly pathogenic avian influenza. 

The disease was first confirmed in a commercial chicken flock three years ago and has continued to worsen, with 17 million laying hens being slaughtered in November and December, reported the USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. 

The disease affected 85 commercial flocks that included egg-laying hens in January. 

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the average price of a dozen large grade-A went to $4.15 in December, climbing from $3.65 the month before. 

"Not to be the bearer of bad news, but we're in this for a while," said Emily Metz, president and CEO of the American Egg Board. "Until we have time without a detection, unfortunately, this very, very tight egg supply is going to continue."

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