People have been hoarding eggs since the outbreak of the H5NI virus, or bird flu, recently. This has caused a hike in the price of the food item, with a dozen large Grade A eggs going from $4.15 to $12, per the Bureau of Labour Statistics.
Videos of empty egg sections at stores like Trader Joe’s and Costco have been making rounds on social media, while some show customers hoarding eggs like they did toilet paper during the COVID-19 lockdown of 2020.
Trader Joe’s and Costco put a purchase price limit on eggs
@ninav0728♬ original sound – Nina
A spokesperson from Trader Joe’s told NBC that customers can no longer buy more than a dozen eggs during these times. They added that this new policy will enable fairness among buyers, enabling those who need eggs to have equal access when they visit their store.
This is also a reaction to the hysteria among shoppers, as many have been complaining online about the whole egg rack being emptied in minutes. While Costco has yet to make any public statements, TikTok and Reddit users have noted that their purchase limit is three cartons per customer, which is significantly higher than Trader Joe’s.
Citizens react to the egg shortage, criticize hoarders
Even fast food chains are not left out of the egg craze, as Waffle House has responded with a $0.50 extra charge on their eggs. People have expressed annoyance at those hoarding on social media, with some showing off their dozens of eggs. “Why does one person even need these many eggs???” someone protested in the comments of a video.
@the.ibarras This egg shortage is getting crazy out here! 🥚😳 On a serious note: is anyone having trouble finding eggs? #Eastvale #EggShortage #Eggs #Costco #Viral #fypシ ♬ original sound – Kardashian clips 🎬
Amid the outrage, some have come to the defense of a particular category of hoarders — particularly business owners who need lots of eggs to work. “Costco is a wholesale store. If you have a bakery and talk to them, they typically make an exception,” the poster explained, while another buttressed their statement, saying Costco is a store for businesses anyway.