Woolworths imposes strict product limit

Woolworths customers will be limited to buying the number of egg cartons across most of the east coast as the industry continues to be hit by a deadly strain of bird flu.

The two-pack limit per person will impact consumers in NSW, ACT and Victoria from Thursday.

The supermarket giant explained the impact was simply a “delay” in stock after a suspected outbreak of avian flu was identified at an egg farm adjoining a packing shed.

“Along with other retailers, we’re expecting a short-term delay in stock from one of our egg suppliers in NSW, ACT and Victoria, due to the temporary closure of one of their packing sheds,” a Woolworths spokeswoman said.

“Their supply is expected to recover over the next week as they ramp up operations at their other sites.”

The supermarket said the purchase limit will act as “as a precaution” to help manage stock issues in the coming months.

“Right now, the majority of customers are only buying one carton of eggs at a time, and there’s no reason that should change,” the spokeswoman said.

“We encourage shoppers to be mindful of others and continue to only buy what they normally would.”

Woolworths customers in other states are not affected by the purchase limit.

The major supermarket follows Coles’ decision to limit egg purchases across all stores in all states except from WA from June 9.

It comes as the country continues to grapple with a possible outbreak of Avian flu spreading across state borders.

An ACT-based commercial egg farm has been locked down, with products, eggs and machinery barred from leaving the premises after it was suspected NSW’s bird flu outbreak had spread to the farm.