Grocery Stores Announce Purchase Limits on Eggs

Grocery stores nationwide are imposing purchase limits on eggs as a severe bird flu outbreak continues to disrupt supply. With millions of birds culled and shelves emptying fast, consumers are facing rising prices and restricted availability.

Key Facts:

Trader Joe’s, Costco, and Sprouts are limiting egg purchases due to avian flu affecting supply.
Trader Joe’s now restricts customers to one dozen eggs per day nationwide.
Over 150 million poultry birds have been culled in response to the H5N1 outbreak.
Social media is flooded with images of empty egg shelves and long lines at stores.
Costco warns customers that egg shortages may impact online orders without notice.

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The Rest of The Story:

Grocery chains across the U.S. are struggling to keep eggs on shelves as the bird flu crisis continues to devastate poultry farms.

Retailers like Trader Joe’s, Costco, and Sprouts have imposed purchase limits to stretch supply, with customers reporting bare shelves and restricted orders.

The H5N1 virus has led to the loss of millions of egg-laying hens, further tightening the market and driving up prices.

Consumers have taken to social media, sharing photos and videos of empty refrigeration units and long lines of shoppers waiting for fresh eggs.

Costco has warned that some egg orders may be canceled without notice, and online shoppers are facing strict quantity limits.

Commentary:

If this situation feels familiar, it should. During the COVID-19 pandemic, toilet paper shortages led to store limits and frantic shopping.

Now, eggs are in the spotlight, with retailers scrambling to control supply.

The difference? Unlike paper products, eggs can’t simply be restocked overnight—rebuilding flocks takes months.

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As with past shortages, rationing doesn’t solve the root problem.

Limiting purchases might help spread out the available supply, but it won’t change the reality that egg production has been severely disrupted.

It’s another reminder of how fragile supply chains can be, especially when government responses to crises often involve mass culling instead of long-term solutions.

Meanwhile, the bird flu outbreak shows no signs of disappearing.

With millions of birds lost and more likely to be culled, the supply crunch could last well into the year.

That means continued price hikes, empty shelves, and ongoing frustration for consumers.

Rather than temporary purchase limits, a more effective approach would be policies that encourage faster flock replenishment and resilience in the poultry industry.

But as history shows, bureaucratic responses tend to be slow and inefficient—leaving everyday Americans to deal with the consequences.