The egg shortage caused by the increase in the price of the product has led to chaos in some Costco stores in the United States, where customers have engaged in fights to get at least one box.
In response to this situation, the company has decided to take action by implementing a new rule for egg purchases. If you’re a regular Costco shopper, here’s what it’s all about.
Costco Limits Egg Sales
Like other supermarkets, the company has chosen to limit egg purchases in all of its U.S. stores to prevent some customers from hoarding the product and leaving others without any. Now, customers are only allowed to purchase one dozen eggs per day.
Costco Customers Fight Over Eggs
It’s nothing new for supermarkets and stores to have scuffles among customers trying to grab certain products; fights have primarily occurred at Costco stores, and now eggs are the reason.
Due to the egg shortage, some customers have opted to buy large quantities of eggs to stock up, leaving others unable to buy even one box.
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This has caused frustration among consumers, who have been involved in fights in the aisles, a situation that has gone viral on social media, where videos show the tense moments experienced in the store.
They’re fighting over eggs at Costco 🤦♂️ pic.twitter.com/RhvcSRA07h
— Clown World ™ 🤡 (@ClownWorld_) February 6, 2025
In videos circulating on social media, customers are seen filling their carts with hundreds of eggs. In some cases, these buyers resell the eggs in unofficial markets.
After the fights triggered by the egg shortage, customers repeatedly requested that the company take action, and now the retail chain has responded by limiting egg sales per customer.
Eggs have become so sought after that, last weekend, thieves in Pennsylvania stole 100,000 units, valued at $40,000, from an egg supplier.
Why Did Egg Prices Rise in the U.S.?
Egg prices have reached historic highs, doubling between September 2023 and December 2024. In several stores, the average price per dozen is around $5. At Costco, for example, a pack containing two dozen eggs ranges from $9.99 to $15.
“These two combined forces (tight supply and high demand) are directly causing the wholesale price increases we’ve seen recently, as well as the intermittent egg shortages in some retail outlets and different parts of the country,” said Emily Metz, CEO of the American Egg Board, in a statement.
Several key factors have contributed to this price hike:
- The avian flu outbreak, which has affected production since 2022.
- The hoarding trend by consumers, which has left many people unable to purchase eggs.
- Recent regulations regarding the production of eggs from cage-free hens, which has reduced the availability of the product.
Experts suggest that former President Donald Trump’s trade policies could make the situation even worse. Furthermore, Costco and other chains are continuing their transition to cage-free eggs, a move that could keep prices high in the future.
Additionally, it’s estimated that in December 2024 alone, more than 13 million hens were lost in the U.S. due to the avian flu virus; this number could increase this year, and according to the Department of Agriculture, it is expected that egg prices will rise another 20 percent in 2025.
Which Stores Have Limited Egg Sales in the United States?
In addition to Costco, several stores have decided to limit egg sales per customer. Among them are the following:
- King Soopers (four boxes per customer)
- Whole Foods Market (four boxes per customer)
- Natural Grocers
- Market Basket (two boxes per family)
- Publix (two boxes per customer)
- Lidl (two boxes per customer)
- Trader Joe’s (three dozen per customer)
- Harris Teeter (three dozen per customer)
