Waffle House adds 50 cents per egg surcharge amid shortages, rising prices

Waffle House is adding a 50-cent per egg surcharge to customers' orders, citing the impact of ongoing egg shortages and rising prices caused by bird flu.

Instead of increasing prices across its menu, the 24-hour breakfast chain is opting for "a temporary targeted surcharge tied to the unprecedented rise in egg prices," the Norcross, Georgia-based company said in a statement. "While we hope these price fluctuations will be short-lived we cannot predict how long this shortage will last."

According to a forecast by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the price of eggs will rise 20% this year.

Bird flu, formerly known as highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), was confirmed in a commercial flock in the U.S. three years ago. The outbreak has worsened in recent months, with 17 million egg-laying hens slaughtered in November and December, according to the USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. HPAI affected 85 commercial flocks, including egg-laying hens, in January alone.

The average price of a dozen large, grade-A eggs came to $4.15 in December, up from $3.65 in November, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Eggs are the most-ordered item at Waffle House, which operates about 2,100 locations in 25 states. The eatery serves 272 million eggs a year, according to its website. That compares with 153 million servings of hash browns and 124 million waffles.

Waffle House competitor International House of Pancakes, or IHOP, indicated the high cost of eggs has not affected its menu prices.

"While franchisees ultimately manage pricing per restaurant, IHOP's House Faves menu remains available Monday through Friday for just $6, $7 in some locations," according to a spokesperson for the breakfast chain, which operates 1,811 restaurants around the U.S. and other countries.