NEW YORK (AP) 鈥� Trader Joe鈥檚 and other grocers are limiting the number of eggs customers can buy across the U.S., citing caused by the ongoing outbreak.
Trader Joe鈥檚 is capping purchases to one carton per customer each day, the Monrovia, California-based chain confirmed. That limit applies to all of Trader Joe鈥檚 locations across the country.
鈥淲e hope these limits will help to ensure that as many of our customers who need eggs are able to purchase them when they visit Trader Joe鈥檚,鈥� the company said in a statement sent to The Associated Press Tuesday.
Photos of in-store notices about eggs purchase limits at retailers nationwide have swirled around online in recent weeks. In addition to Trader Joe鈥檚, consumers and several local media outlets have also reported varying limits seen at stores like , , and locations.
When each limit went into effect is unclear, however. And not all are being implemented nationally. A spokesperson for Kroger, for example, confirmed that the supermarket giant doesn鈥檛 currently have 鈥渆nterprise-wide limits鈥� in place 鈥� but said some of regional divisions and store banners are asking customers to cap egg purchases to two dozen per trip.
Walmart says it also hasn鈥檛 imposed national limits 鈥� expect for bulkier purchases of 60-count cartons, which have been capped to two per purchase, the Bentonville, Arkansas-based retail giant confirmed Tuesday.
鈥淎lthough supply is very tight, we鈥檙e working with suppliers to try and help meet customer demand, while striving to keep prices as low as possible,鈥� Walmart said in an emailed statement.
The AP also reached out to Costco, Whole Foods and Aldi for further information on Tuesday. Costco previously that the chain was limiting its customers to three packages of eggs, which are typically sold in two-dozen or four-dozen cartons.
is forcing farmers to millions of chickens a month, pushing to more than double their in the summer of 2023.
The average price per dozen nationwide hit $4.15 in December 鈥� and it appears there may be no relief in sight, with the Agriculture Department will soar another 20% this year. Retailers could notably feel added pressures with Easter demand fast approaching.
Beyond grocery stores limits, U.S. consumers are also facing more expensive eggs in some restaurants. Last week, , for example, said it would be adding a 50-cent surcharge per egg on all of its menus.
Wyatte Grantham-philips, The Associated Press
