These supermarkets are limiting egg purchases
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
The Aldi in Bloomfield is limiting egg purchases. Photo: Ryan Deto/Axios
Pittsburgh-area supermarkets are limiting egg purchases as soaring bird flu cases strain the nation's egg supply.
Why it matters: The highly pathogenic avian influenza, also known as bird flu, has affected at least 23 million birds nationally in the last 30 days, according to USDA data, including 2.2 million in Pennsylvania. Fewer eggs have led to shortages and higher prices.
- Giant Eagle, Trader Joe's, Costco, Whole Foods and area Aldi stores are encouraging customers to temporarily cap how many egg cartons they buy.
The big picture: Egg prices have reached record highs and are expected to go up by 20% this year, according to the USDA.
- Prices rose from $2.52 per dozen in January 2024 to $4.15 per dozen in December, and they're still rising.
Zoom in: Giant Eagle is asking customers to limit their egg purchases to three cartons per transaction.
- Trader Joe's is rationing egg purchases to one dozen per day.
- Costco has set a three-package limit on eggs, typically sold in two-dozen or four-dozen cartons, in some stores.
- Aldi has a two-carton limit in locations like Bloomfield and Wilkinsburg but has not announced a companywide policy.
- Whole Foods in East Liberty is limiting customers to three egg cartons per day.
- Shop 'n Save did not appear to have a limit on eggs as of Wednesday.
Reality check: Even without restrictions, shoppers may find themselves limited by the available supply. Whole Foods in East Liberty had no chicken eggs available Wednesday, only a few cartons of quail eggs. A sign posted at the store said the company is having trouble "sourcing eggs that meet our strict animal welfare standards."
What they're saying: Giant Eagle in a statement said the company will "sell all conventional shelled eggs at or below our cost" to support customers during the price surge while limiting per-customer egg sales.
Zoom out: Restaurant owners in the region are grappling with skyrocketing egg prices.
- Waffle House recently added a temporary surcharge of 50 cents per egg due to rising prices.
Context: The bird flu outbreak started in January 2022 and has since spread to wild and domestic birds in every state.
- Yes, but: Although bird flu can pass from animals to people, it poses a low risk to humans, per the CDC. No infections in dairy cattle or humans have been detected in Pennsylvania.
The bottom line: Eggs are still safe to eat if they're properly stored and cooked, but they're getting more expensive and harder to find.