Trader Joe limits egg purchases to one dozen per customer per day. EGG prices are expected to rise 20% in 2025. At least one expert says the consumer is creating a lack of eggs.
Are you heading to the store to pick up an egg carton?
Get ready for a Covid-19 flashback.
More retailers are limiting the number of eggs they can buy as they continue to cause problems with panic purchases and H5N1 bird flu.
This is the latest. But first:
Why are eggs so expensive now?
The USDA believes that the increased costs of eggs are attributed to the highly pathogenic avian flu or avian flu outbreak that is straining the supply.
People’s concerns about the shortage are also contributing.
Limit Trader Joe’s egg purchases to one dozen per day
Trader Joe told USA Today on Monday, February 10 that he had restricted the purchase of eggs to one dozen per customer per day.
Purchase restrictions apply to all Trader Joe locations.
According to Scrape Heroes, there are 608 Trader Joe locations in the US, with most in California.
➤ See all Florida locations
Top 5 states with trader jaw locations:
California: 205New York: 35Washington: 29Florida: 27illinois/Massachusetts: 23
Costco limits egg purchases to 3 packages per day
According to CNN, Costco said it is restricted to eggs, which limits its customers to three eggs. Limitations may vary depending on location. We contacted Costco for more details throughout the US
According to Scrapehero, there are 624 Costco stores in the US.
Top 5 states with Costco locations:
California: 140texas: 43washington: 34florida: 33illinois: 23
Aldi limits egg purchases to two dozen
According to NBC Chicago, the Chicago area Aldi sign told customers that egg purchases are limited to 20 dozen. Limitations may vary depending on location. We contacted Aldi for details all over the US
➤Winn-Dixie Parent purchases unidentified stores from Aldi. How many have you converted to Florida?
According to Scrapehero, there are 2,464 Aldi locations in the US and the majority of stores in Florida.
Top 5 states with Aldi locations:
Florida: 225illinois: 215ohio: 170pennsylvania: 164new York: 134
The bud limits egg purchases to four packages
Sprouts Farmers Market said on its website it limits egg purchases to four packages each. Limitations may vary depending on location. We reached out to more detailed buds throughout the US
Sprouts announced in January that it plans to “a major expansion” in 2025, setting a “big focus on Florida.” Seven new stores are planned.
According to Scrapehero, as of December 23, 2024, there were 443 bud locations in the United States.
Florida has 53 Brussels sprout locations, some of which will open in March and April.
➤ See all Florida locations
Top 5 states with bean sprout locations:
California: 150texas: 54florida: 48 (currently open) Arizona: 47Colorado: 34
Does Sam’s Club’s Walmart limit egg purchases?
At Walmart, the only limit on buying eggs is due to a 60 count carton. This is limited to two per purchase to “ensure more customers have access to the eggs,” according to an email from Walmart representative on Tuesday, February 11th. .
“The supply is very tight, but we work with our suppliers to help meet customer demand and keep prices as low as possible.
“At Sam’s Club, we continue to limit the number of eggs purchased to two per item. We continue to work with our suppliers to meet demand and provide value to our members,” the email said.
According to Scrapehero, there are 4,599 Walmart stores in the US and 340 in Florida.
Top 5 states with Walmart locations:
Texas: 514Florida: 340California: 273North Carolina: 192Georgia: 185
According to Scrapehero, there are 599 SAM clubs in the US and 45 in Florida.
Top 5 states with Sam’s Club locations:
Texas: 82Florida: 45California: 29ohio: 27illinois: 25
Does Publix limit the purchase of eggs?
“Like many retailers, according to Lindsey Willis of Publix Media Relations Manager in an email Friday, February 7th, “Like many retailers, there’s a lack of eggs due to bird flu (HPAI). I’ve been experiencing it.”
“As a result, items in this section are limited availability. We are working to bring these products back as soon as possible. We ask that customers be regularly checked as we receive routine delivery. I recommend it.”
According to Scrapehero, eight states have 1,439 Publix stores.
State breakdown:
Florida: 897Georgia: 225Alabama: 96South Carolina: 73tennessee: 61North Carolina: 61Virginia: 24Kentucky: 2
How much will egg prices rise in 2025?
According to the Department of Agriculture price outlook, egg prices are projected to rise by around 20% in 2025, compared to a 2.2% rise in overall food prices.
According to the USDA, eggs are 36.8% more than December 2024 than December 2024, but prices in January 2023 were still below their peak.
➤ Compare Florida egg prices with other states and grocery stores
According to the Federal Reserve Bank, a dozen grade big eggs in December was $4.15.
Is there a shortage of eggs or are people stocked up?
Saloni Vastani, an associate professor of marketing at Emory University, said consumers are creating shortages due to realistic and perceived problems, just like what happened with toilet paper in the past.
“Egg prices are rising due to bird flu, but it’s driving people to buy more eggs than they expect to expect higher prices and expect to reduce grocery store supply. “We’ll do that,” Vastani told USA Today.
“And when the shelves are empty, there’s more panic and I’m rushing to buy more eggs,” Vastani said.
Bird flu blamed increased egg costs
According to the USDA, the rise in egg costs is due to the outbreak of avian flu.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have confirmed 68 cases of avian influenza in the United States, including one death in Louisiana.
Over the past three years, more than 145 million birds have been reported in bird flu in all 618 counties and 50 states, according to CDC data as of January 24th.
No cases of avian flu in Florida have been reported to people
According to the CDC, there are no reports of people exposed to avian flu in Florida being reported from commercial businesses.
California leads the US with confirmed human cases of avian influenza, with mostly exposed to the dairy cow virus.
Here is a breakdown of the top three states:
California: 38 washington: 11 colorado: 10
Contributors: Amaris Encinus, Betty Lynn Fisher, USA Today
