Waffle House has introduced a 50-cent surcharge per egg effective February 3, affecting all 2,000 locations. This measure arises from a significant bird flu outbreak that has led to the loss of over 13 million hens since December. Egg prices have soared, with average costs for a dozen reaching $4.15 in December—a rise of 50% over the past year. The chain states that this surcharge is temporary and will be adjusted based on market conditions. As the country faces a continuing egg shortage, health officials encourage precautions against bird flu, which has also seen some human infections.