Why is Waffle House adding a 50-cent surcharge on each egg? Reasons explained

The 24-hour diner chain Waffle House has implemented a 50-cent surcharge per egg at its locations across the U.S. The move comes in response to a nationwide egg shortage caused by the ongoing bird flu outbreak, which has also driven up egg prices.

The surcharge took effect on February 3, 2025. It is a temporary measure, according to a statement from Waffle House, shared with Nextstar. Rather than raising prices across its entire menu, the company has opted for a targeted fee on eggs, which are its most-ordered menu item.

Waffle House serves approximately 272 million eggs per year, far surpassing its hash browns, which get around 153 million servings, and its signature waffles with around 124 million servings.

The company has not specified when the surcharge will end, stating that the measure is tied to the unprecedented rise in egg prices and will remain in place until the market prices stabilize. Per Nextstar, the official brand statement reads,

"The continuing egg shortage caused by HPAI (Bird Flu) has caused a dramatic increase in egg prices. Consumers and restaurants are being forced to make difficult decisions. While we hope these price fluctuations will be short-lived we cannot predict how long this shortage will last."

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The reason behind the price hike explained

The main driver behind this sudden price increase is the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), commonly known as bird flu. The current outbreak has had severe effects on poultry farms, as per reports. This is leading to mass culling of infected birds to prevent the virus from spreading further.

Since the outbreak began in 2022, the virus has impacted poultry farms across the country, with recent months seeing a sharp escalation in cases. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), by February 2025, outbreaks had been detected in 957 dairy herds across 16 states and 153 million poultry birds had been affected.

CDC mentions on its official website,

"H5 bird flu is widespread in wild birds worldwide and is causing outbreaks in poultry and U.S. dairy cows with several recent human cases in U.S. dairy and poultry workers."

"While the current public health risk is low, CDC is watching the situation carefully and working with states to monitor people with animal exposures."

Data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that the price of a dozen grade-A eggs jumped from $2.52 in January 2024 to $4.15 in December 2024. The U.S. Department of Agriculture predicts that egg prices will rise by another 20% in 2025. The hike is making it difficult for businesses like Waffle House to absorb the increased costs without adjustments.

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How Waffle House is handling the situation?

Waffle House operates around 2,100 locations across 25 states. The diner has built an image of keeping prices low. Hence, this surcharge is a relatively unusual step. However, the company insists that it is a necessary response to the economic pressures caused by the egg shortage.

Although Waffle House has not provided details on how the surcharge is being communicated to customers, some locations have reportedly posted notices on windows and menus, informing diners of the extra charge.