Waffle House Announces 50-Cent Surcharge on Eggs Due to Bird Flu
Surcharge Goes into Effect Monday
Waffle House, a comfort food franchise with over 2,000 locations, has announced a $0.50 surcharge on all egg items sold at its restaurants due to soaring egg prices caused by the bird flu.
Reason for the Surcharge
The surcharge was triggered by the highly infectious virus, which has affected the chicken population and caused an egg shortage. According to the Agriculture Department’s latest Egg Markets Overview, over 13 million hens have been lost or slaughtered since December following the bird flu outbreak.
Economic Factors
Economists and market analysts have cited the bird flu as the chief reason for the price spike, along with the typical consumer demand for eggs during the winter holiday season. “Consumers and restaurants are being forced to make difficult decisions,” Waffle House, Inc. said in a statement.
Temporary Solution
The franchise said the $0.50 increase “is a temporary targeted surcharge” tied to the rise in egg prices, and that they “will adjust or remove the surcharge as market conditions allow.” While Waffle House hopes the price fluctuations will be short-lived, they cannot predict how long the shortage will last.
Bird Flu Investigation
Pertinent to the food industry’s recovery and mitigating the spread of the virus is identifying cases of bird flu. To assist with bird flu investigations, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has urged labs to determine whether people hospitalized with the flu have the virus or just seasonal influenza within 24 hours of admission.
Challenges in Identifying Bird Flu Cases
According to the CDC’s Dr. Nirav Shah, patients have often already been sent home by the time test results have come back. “The more time that goes by, the more memories fade and the harder it is to identify a potential source,” Shah said during a news briefing last month. This can also mean that “their close contacts may be beyond the window for preventative medications like Tamiflu.”
Seasonal Flu Outbreak
The seasonal flu is raging in the U.S. right now, especially in the West, across the Midwest and deep into the Southeast, the CDC said last month.
Conclusion
Waffle House’s decision to implement a $0.50 surcharge on eggs is a temporary measure to mitigate the impact of the bird flu on its business. As the situation develops, the franchise will continue to monitor market conditions and adjust its pricing accordingly.
FAQs
Q: Why is Waffle House adding a surcharge to its egg items?
A: The surcharge is due to soaring egg prices caused by the bird flu, which has affected the chicken population and caused an egg shortage.
Q: How long will the surcharge be in effect?
A: The surcharge is temporary and will be adjusted or removed as market conditions allow.
Q: What is the CDC doing to investigate bird flu cases?
A: The CDC is urging labs to determine whether people hospitalized with the flu have the virus or just seasonal influenza within 24 hours of admission to assist with bird flu investigations.
