LONGVIEW, Texas (KETK) — The buck has been passed to Waffle House customers as the company announced a 50-cent surcharge for all egg items. This comes, after a report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics found a 50% increase in egg prices in the past year.
The franchise said the surcharge was triggered by the bird flu that has impacted chicken population and has since caused an egg shortage. Outbreaks of the highly infectious influenza has resulted in more than 13 million birds to be lost or slaughtered.
In Louisiana, the first bird flu death was reported early January after a person was hospitalized with severe respiratory symptoms. Health officials said the person was older than 65, had underlying medical problems and had been in contact with sick and dead birds.
“The continuing egg shortage caused by HPAI (Bird Flu) has caused a dramatic increase in egg prices,” the Waffle House memo shared with Nexstar said. “Consumers and restaurants are being forced to make difficult decisions. Effective Feb. 3, Waffle House has implemented a temporary .50 per egg surcharge to all menus.”
Waffle House said though the price change is temporary, it is unclear when they will adjust or remove the price tag.
“While we hope these price fluctuations will be short-lived, we cannot predict how long this shortage will last,” the memo reads.
For Longview residents like Daniel Stanley, the rise in egg prices will significantly change the way he shops as he struggles to buy groceries, gas and pay other bills.
“We used to be able to pay $2 to $2.50, a dozen. Now we’re paying anywhere from $5 to $8 a dozen for eggs, that’s ridiculous,” Stanley said.
Stanley and his family will now be looking elsewhere to eat.
“I won’t come back, not after that. My wife said, no we just go to Denny’s, Denny’s is just as good and just as cheap,” Stanley said.
