Waffle House Drops 50‑Cent Egg Surcharge Following National Price Decline
After a five month egg stra surcharge due to soaring egg prices from bird flu disruptions Waffle House removes the 50 cent per egg fee effective June 2 2025 Learn why prices have fallen and what led to the change .
Waffle House the beloved Georgia based breakfast chain known for its affordable meals and over 2000 US locations has officially removed its 50 cent per egg surcharge as of June 2 2025 .
The fee was implemented in early February 2025 in response to a dramatic spike in egg prices caused by a nationwide outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza HPAI H5N9 In a social media post dated July 1 the company shared .
Egg cellent news as of June 2 the egg surcharge is officially off the menu Thanks for understanding .
Why the Surcharge Was Introduced
Earlier this year the US experienced one of its most devastating bird flu outbreaks Millions of egg laying hens were culled to prevent the viruss spread leading to sharp supply shortages In March wholesale egg prices peaked at 6.23 per dozen with some regions reporting even higher costs .
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Rather than raise overall menu prices Waffle House opted for a targeted 50 cent surcharge per egg aiming to offset costs while being transparent with customers Eggs are one of the restaurants best selling ingredients used in millions of meals annually so the added cost directly reflected the inflationary pressures on their core menu .
How Egg Prices Fell — And Why
By late spring several factors contributed to a significant drop in egg prices .
- Containment of Avian Flu The USDAs five pronged biosecurity strategy helped curb the spread of the bird flu stabilizing the egg laying hen population .
- Easing Seasonal Demand Post Easter consumer demand for eggs naturally declined .
- Increased Imports The US Department of Agriculture approved emergency egg imports bringing in more than 26 million dozen eggs from countries such as Brazil Mexico and South Korea .
- Recovery in Domestic Supply US flocks began to rebound by early June reaching within 6 percent of last years numbers .
As a result wholesale egg prices fell to 2.54 per dozen by late June while retail prices declined to around 4.55 their lowest since December 2024 .
USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins commented on the trend
Egg prices are falling farmers are getting the relief they need and families are seeing lower grocery bills .
Industry and Customer Response
Waffle House wasnt alone in applying the surcharge Other chains such as Dennys had also implemented temporary fees but lifted them as conditions improved Dennys removed its surcharge on May 21 2025 .
Public response was mixed While many celebrated the end of the fee as a sign of relief some criticized the delay in its removal On social media one diner wrote .
Thats fantastic Good to see some relief on prices
Others noted the fee had overstayed its welcome though most appreciated Waffle Houses transparency in addressing food inflation directly rather than raising prices across the board .
What Comes Next
Despite the drop egg prices remain about 40 percent higher than this time last year Experts caution that the market may still see volatility especially if there are new avian flu outbreaks or shifts in global supply chains .
To mitigate future risks USDA officials and industry leaders continue to monitor farm biosecurity and international supply conditions The broader food industry remains watchful as eggs serve as a bellwether for grocery price trends nationwide .
Secretary Rollins added
Families are seeing relief with egg prices driving food deflation a sign that our interventions are working .
Final Takeaway
The removal of Waffle Houses 50 cent egg surcharge represents more than just a return to affordable breakfasts it signals progress in stabilizing a food system rocked by disease and inflation While full normalcy hasnt returned the move brings tangible relief to customers and sets a hopeful precedent for other restaurants navigating volatile ingredient costs .
As eggs return to more reasonable prices diners can once again enjoy their favorite Waffle House meals sunny side up without the extra charge .