Denny's Announces Surcharge on Eggs During Shortage

Going to the grocery store nowadays can burn a hole in your pocket, with inflation and newly implemented tariffs by President Trump driving the prices of everyday goods up.

However, there's another factor that making prices for certain goods skyrocket - and that's the bird flu.

If you've been to the store lately, you probably have noticed how expensive certain groceries have gotten - in particular eggs. According to Nerdwallet, the price of eggs have increased by 53% in just one year. And experts believe they'll keep going up.

The bird flu outbreak plays a huge role in these rising prices. The outbreak started in 2022 and grew quickly to be the largest bird flu outbreak in U.S. history. As of February 2025, bird flu has affected over 166 million birds in the U.S. since the start of 2022.

Unfortunately, grocery stores aren't the only ones feeling the impact of the shortage. Restaurants, such as Denny's and Waffle House, have implemented surcharges on meals that contain eggs.

What is the Bird Flu?

Officially referred to as the H5N1 virus, this virus typically impacts birds, especially poultry like chickens and turkeys. But there are certain strains that can cross the barrier between species. Such as with the man who died from bird flu in Louisiana.

There are different strains of bird flu, with some being more dangerous than others. The H5N1 strain, for example, has caused concern due to its ability to infect humans and its high mortality rate. Symptoms in birds can include sudden death, lack of energy, decreased egg production, and respiratory problems.

Bird flu symptoms in humans are not unlike what birds may experience, which include:

• Fever (often high, 100°F or above)

• Cough

• Sore throat

• Runny or stuffy nose

• Muscle or body aches

• Headaches

• Fatigue

• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing

• Diarrhea

• Nausea and vomiting

• Eye infections (conjunctivitis)

• Pneumonia (in severe cases)

In rare cases, more serious complications can occur:

• Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)

• Multiple organ failure

• Neurological changes (seizures, confusion)

Denny's Affected by the Egg Shortage

If a resturant carries eggs, it's likely that it's been affected by the bird flu and the egg shortage. Many restaurants have started to charge a surcharge on any meals that inclue eggs. One of those being the popular breakfast spot - Denny's.

Out of its over 1,500 locations, Denny's has declined to specify which locations will implement the surcharge since the decision is "market-by-market, and restaurant-by-restaurant due to the regional impacts of the egg shortage."

Another popular and affordable breakfast spot, Waffle House is also adding a surcharge to their menu.

Not every restaurant that serves eggs is affected though, including McDonald's who has promised not to add any extra surcharge on items during the shortage. IHOP has also stated that their menu prices have not changed during this time.