You might want to allocate some extra time for your next grocery run… especially if you’re searching for the hottest commodity in the refrigerated section. As industry-wide supply shortages restrict retailers’ stock, customers are waiting in very lengthy lines to pick up cartons of eggs at bulk retailer Costco.
Social videos from users across the country — depicting locations from Southern California to the East Coast — pan over long stretches of shoppers waiting to pick up their allocated three packages of eggs, following the superstore’s decision to limit the number of eggs each customer can buy. Other major grocery chains, including Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s, have instituted their own strict purchase limits on eggs.
As footage shows, the line to get eggs at some Costco locations is so long that customers are even waiting outside the store. The queues haven’t formed at checkout, but instead are for individuals merely waiting to put their eggs in a cart. It’s unclear exactly why the limitation on purchases has caused such long lines, but it’s possible that people are concerned about being able to buy eggs at a later date.
Consumer demand for eggs appears to vary depending on region, so if you want to avoid a line, it might be best to call your Costco location first.
On Wednesday February 12, an employee confirmed via phone call that the Costco in Fullerton, California has a separate line for eggs, and NBC 7 San Diego reported news of long lines at the bulk retailer’s store in nearby Chula Vista, CA. Meanwhile, a New Jersey-based employee confirmed that they likewise expected to see a line all week. Other metropolitan locations, such as Costco’s outpost in upper Manhattan, have documented limited quantities of eggs but no queues.
The nationwide shortage follows several months of a severe H5N1 (also known as avian flu or bird flu) outbreak in the United States. More than 157 million wild aquatic birds, commercial poultry, and “backyard or hobbyist flocks” have been infected with avian flu, per the USDA’s latest data.
The outbreak has been especially difficult on egg-laying flocks, destroying populations and driving up prices for the staple grocery. As CBS reported last month, the virus caused the death of over 20 million egg-laying hens in the last quarter of 2024.
This isn’t the first time that the poultry industry has encountered supply chain issues related to the disease. In 2023, a smaller outbreak of H5N1 led to supply limitations and comparatively modest price increases for several months. Even amidst a less-prevalent outbreak, videos from that year showed similar queues of customers waiting to purchase eggs at the bulk retailer.
The recent extra-long lines for eggs come at a time when the cost of a dozen couldn’t be higher. The Department of Labor Statistics’ latest numbers illustrate a sharp rise in egg prices caused by the bird flu outbreak: The average price of one dozen Grade A large eggs reached $4.95 in January, more than a 19% increase over the $4.15 average in December 2024. Just a year ago, that same carton was a mere $2.52.
This dramatic uptick in cost has led to some creative solutions from both customers and restaurants — some are even considering renting their own chickens to gain quicker, easier access to eggs. As for the rest of us, we may just have to wait in line.
