These Milwaukee grocery stores are limiting egg purchases as bird flu spreads nationwide
Several Milwaukee-area grocery store chains are setting limits on egg purchases as the H5N1 bird flu continues spurring a nationwide egg shortage.
Aldi, Trader Joe's and Pick 'n Save are among the national and local chains currently limiting egg purchases. And, on top of the shortages, Wisconsin grocers are also managing rapidly increasing egg prices as a result of the avian flu, inflation and seasonal demand.
Egg prices are expected to jump by about 20% over the year, while overall food prices are only forecast to rise by 2.2%, according to an outlook from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Here's what to know about the egg shortage, including which Milwaukee grocery stores have set purchase limits.
More: Is it safe to eat eggs as bird flu spreads in Wisconsin? Here are some food safety tips
Since February 2022, more than 150 million poultry across the U.S. have been infected with bird flu, according to the data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention last updated Feb. 10. As the virus spreads, farmers are forced to slaughter infected birds, sometimes millions at a time, leading to a shortage in egg production.
The outbreak strain, H5N1, first emerged among poultry flocks and wild birds in Europe in fall 2020 before spreading to the U.S., Africa, the Middle East and Asia. It has since become the largest such outbreak in the U.S., fueling similar egg shortages and price hikes in early 2023.
As of Jan. 13, the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection had detected avian influenza in commercial poultry flocks in Burnett, Barron and Washburn Counties and in a backyard flock in Kenosha County.
More: Wisconsin grocers react to rapidly increasing egg prices. High demand and bird flu are the culprits
Though many local grocers have limited egg purchases, Sendik's appeared to be an outlier: a representative at the store's Whitefish Bay location, 500 E. Silver Spring Dr., told the Journal Sentinel it currently has no purchase limits.
Here are the Milwaukee-area grocery stores currently limiting egg purchases:
Aldi: The grocery chain is limiting each shoppers to two dozen eggs per day, an Aldi customer service representative told the Journal Sentinel. However, customers can arrange larger orders in advance by speaking to a store manager at their local Aldi.
Trader Joe's: The chain is currently limiting egg purchases to one dozen per customer per day in all stores, a Trader Joe's representative told USA TODAY.
Costco: Customers are currently only allowed to purchase a maximum of three egg packages, which are typically sold in two-dozen or four-dozen cartons, CNN reported.
Pick 'n Save and Metro Market: The grocery chains, which are both operated by Kroger, are limiting customers to two cartons of eggs per day, representatives at downtown locations of each store said.
Fresh Thyme Market: Customers are limited to two dozen eggs per day, representatives at the chain's downtown and Brookfield locations said.
Whole Foods: Though a spokesperson for Whole Foods did not respond to requests for comment, Business Insider reported that at least one Wisconsin location was limiting customers to three cartons each.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin grocery stores set egg purchase limits as bird flu spreads
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