A Store-by-Store Guide to Purchasing Eggs Amid a Nationwide Shortage

Eggs have been in short supply for several months, and it’s no surprise why: a widespread outbreak of the H5N1 avian flu has devastated egg-laying flocks, with more than 20 million egg-laying hens dying in the last quarter alone. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reports the virus has spread to all 50 states, infecting more than 159 million birds.

So if you’ve struggled to find a carton during your usual grocery run — or balked at the soaring prices of what was once an affordable staple — you’re not alone.

Related: Is It Safe to Eat Eggs During a Bird Flu Outbreak? Here’s What to Know

Shoppers are getting creative in response. Some are planning trips to local farmers’ markets, while others are even considering raising their own hens. If that’s not an option for you, don’t worry. As consumers face  skyrocketing egg prices and industry-wide shortages, Food & Wine took a closer look at the purchasing restrictions at some of the country’s biggest grocery chains.

Aldi

Budget-conscious grocer Aldi is limiting customers to two cartons of eggs per visit, at least according to store signage in some markets. (NBC reports that Chicago-area stores have a two-dozen limit, while we observed a similar restriction in New York City.) However, regular Aldi shoppers might not be surprised — as users on the r/Aldi_employees subreddit discuss, select stores across the country have been instituting egg limits for months. The company didn’t immediately respond to our request for comment.

Costco

This members-only big box retailer was among the first to institute purchase limits on eggs by limiting customers to only three dozen eggs per transaction, as videos of in-store signage show. However, customers at some of the bulk retailers’ locations are still braving mile-long queues to purchase the breakfast staple.

H-E-B

This San Antonio-based regional grocery chain does not currently have a limit, but the company told a Texas news station that it’s continuing to “closely monitor the situation” as egg prices rise and national supplies shift.

Kroger

Kroger doesn’t currently have a national policy on the books for its more than 1,200 locations. However, a company representative tells Food & Wine that some locations might have a temporary limit of two dozen eggs.

Publix

The beloved Florida-based chain doesn’t appear to currently have any restrictions on egg purchases, but a company representative told a local news outlet that stores may have limited availability. As with many supermarkets, prepare to encounter empty shelves or higher-than-expected prices.

Target

According to a Target representative, select Target locations in Hawaii are implementing a two-carton limit on egg purchases. We also observed a two-carton limit at a New York City location. Many similar signs, as posted online, indicate that the restrictions and shortages are in effect through March 1 — a date, of course, that’s open to change. “We are currently experiencing high demand and supplier shortages for eggs,” a sign at a New York City outpost reads. “We are actively seeking additional supply partners.”

Want to save yourself from an unfruitful trip? The Target app has a store pickup feature to keep shoppers updated on their location’s current stock, but it’s worth noting that information on available quantities may not be current.

Trader Joe’s

Trader Joe’s is asking customers to limit themselves to one dozen eggs each day — the strictest policy we’ve seen so far.

“Due to ongoing issues with the supply of eggs, we are currently limiting egg purchases to one dozen per customer, per day, in all Trader Joe’s stores across the country,” Nakia Rohde, a company representative, tells Food & Wine. “We 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’s.”

Still hoping to snag a budget-friendly carton? Employees recommend arriving right at the store’s opening time to ensure you claim your dozen.

Walmart

The nation’s largest supermarket isn’t currently enforcing egg purchase limits at its more than 10,600 stores, save for its mega 60-count packages. You’ll only be able to snag two of these $38 boxes per trip, as a representative confirmed via email. “In Walmart U.S. stores, we have not imposed any purchase limits nationally,” a representative tells Food & Wine. “Although supply is very tight, we’re working with suppliers to try and help meet customer demand, while striving to keep prices as low as possible.”

Whole Foods

Amazon subsidiary Whole Foods — which requires its eggs suppliers to deliver eggs that are cage-free, have access to sizeable outdoor areas, are raised in an outdoor system, and have access to rangeland or grassland — is currently limiting shoppers to three cartons per trip in some stores, according to signs posted in some locations. Social media users across the country have spotted similar signage since early January, with some highlighting that the entire egg section is sold out (including the priciest organic cartons). The company didn’t immediately respond to our request for comment.

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