Egg surcharge hits diners' wallets: Experts say consumers should fear menu price hikes more

Published On Feb 7, 2025, 1:32 PM

Consumers are facing surcharges on eggs at restaurants due to a shortage driven by avian influenza. While establishments like Waffle House have introduced temporary egg surcharges (50 cents extra per egg), experts indicate that these are preferable to permanent menu price increases. The National Restaurant Association suggests that these surcharges are imposed with the expectation of a quick market correction, providing transparency about rising costs. Overall, the trend suggests that customer sensitivity to price increases is leading restaurants to adopt surcharges rather than outright menu price hikes, which can be perceived unfavorably by diners.