Denny's, the well-known diner chain, is adding extra charges to its egg-based dishes at select locations, joining the ranks of other eateries like Waffle House which have already made headlines this month for similar moves, this comes as a consequence of the ongoing bird flu outbreak that's evidently squeezing out egg supplies and jacking up prices across the US, according to reports from FOX 5 Atlanta and First Alert 4.
The avian flu outbreak has already taken a toll on more than 140 million egg-laying birds in the country since 2022, with over 18.9 million birds affected in the last month alone, creating a significant dent in egg supply and prompting price surges that are impacting restaurants and consumers nationwide, while some local establishments and Georgia-based Waffle House began adding a 50-cent surcharge per egg earlier in February, Denny's has yet to reveal the exact surcharge amount, stating that pricing decisions are being made "market-by-market, and restaurant-by-restaurant" due to the regional impacts of the egg shortage according to statements obtained by First Alert 4.
The Consumer Price Index report indicated a major leap in egg prices, showing a 15.2% increase from December to January, with the average cost for a dozen Grade A large eggs reaching $4.95, as reported by FOX 5 Atlanta; this situation has forced eateries to apply additional charges to cope with the rising costs, affecting consumers directly.
Businesses beyond restaurants, including bakeries and major retailers, are feeling the economic pinch with the surge in egg prices; Scott Auslander, the general manager of Washington, DC's bakery Bread Furst, told First Alert 4, "Our suppliers are telling us that they don’t know when egg prices are going to come down — or if they’re going to come down," revealing that costs for their establishment had more than doubled over the past year, and such increases have compelled the bakery to raise prices on egg-heavy menu items.
The egg crisis has also led to businesses looking overseas for supply solutions, with Turkey ramping up exports to the US to an unprecedented volume to meet demand; in contrast, US Customs and Border Protection is grappling with a spike in raw egg smuggling attempts from Mexico, issuing penalties to travelers who fail to declare agricultural products, as mentioned by First Alert 4. As experts anticipate the possibility of a 20% price hike on eggs this year, American consumers and businesses are left to face the financial repercussions of this ongoing supply dilemma.
