Why did Costco and Trader Joe's limit the purchase of eggs? Reasons explained

Costco and Trader Joe's have reportedly placed limits on the purchase of eggs, amid soaring prices. Two primary reasons for the limits are the nationwide bird flu outbreak and the implementation of cage-free egg laws. On February 7, Trader Joe's wrote a statement to NBC via email that they are implementing limits on the purchase of eggs.

Egg prices are at an all-time high, with many reports saying that the average cost is approximately $5 per dozen. At Costco.com, customers may have to shell out between $9.99 and $15 for approximately two dozen eggs. At Target.com, the price of a dozen eggs starts at $4.29.

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Reasons Costco and Trader Joe's placed limits on the purchase of eggs

The soaring prices of eggs have impacted individuals and businesses across US states. While the increased rates can be traced back to the 2022 bird flu, it appears that the effects have continued to linger. Additionally, grocery chains, including Costco and Trader Joe's have previously announced the move towards cage-free eggs, adding to the limited availability.

In a public statement from 2016, Trader Joe's had aimed to completely switch to cage-free eggs by 2025, potentially adding to increasing costs. Due to limited availability, many videos of some customers hoarding eggs have surfaced on social media.

Trader Joe's has now announced limits on the purchase of eggs. In the emailed statement to NBC News, their spokesperson, Nakia Rhode wrote,

“Due to ongoing issues with the supply of eggs, we are currently limiting egg purchases to one dozen per customer, per day, in all Trader Joe’s stores across the country."

They added,

“We hope these limits will help to ensure that as many of our customers who need eggs are able to purchase them when they visit Trader Joe’s.”

In the review section of Costco.com and Target.com, customers revealed their disappointment at the increasing prices and made comparisons with local grocery stores. Many noted that the prices had risen significantly in the previous month. Apart from Costco and Trader Joe's, a Georgia-based breakfast chain, Waffle House also announced a surcharge on eggs starting February 3.

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Owing to multiple reasons, including the lingering effects of avian flu and cage-free egg laws, there has been a steep increase in the prices of eggs. This has consequently led major grocery markets to limit the purchase of eggs per person in a day. It is unclear when the limit will be removed.

Have you faced a shortage of eggs in your area? Tell us in the comments below.