GAINESVILLE, Ga. – Some large grocery store chains are limiting the number of eggs consumers can purchase as a result of shortages caused by bird flu cases around the nation.
Trader Joe’s has limited customers to one dozen per customer, per day, to combat the rising egg shortage.
Nakia Rohde, a spokesperson for Trader Joe’s, explained, “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.”
Trader Joe’s is not the only one limiting consumer egg purchases. However, Walmart has specified their limitation only applies to 60-count cartons when purchased online.
“We have not imposed any purchase limits nationally – (except for on a 60-count carton only – which we’ve limited to 6 per purchase online only – no limit in store) – to help ensure more customers can have access to eggs,” said Tricia Moriarty, a spokesperson for Walmart. “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.”
Others have implemented regional limitations. According to an email from Erin Rolfes, spokesperson for Kroger, “…we do not have an enterprise-wide limit on egg purchases; however, some divisions have two dozen per customer, per trip limits.”
The bird flu outbreak has caused some members of the public to question if poultry products are safe to consume.
But the CDC confirmed in an article published on their website, “Cooking poultry and eggs to an internal temperature of 165˚F kills bacteria and viruses, including avian influenza A viruses.”
So far, none of the stores have expressed a timeframe for limitations on egg purchases.
