Waffle House is adding a $0.50 surcharge to all egg items on its menu, which went into effect on Monday at all 2,000 restaurants, because of soaring egg prices due to an outbreak of the bird flu.  

The bird flu has caused a national egg shortage after infecting more than 13 million birds since December, according to data from the Department of Agriculture. Egg prices have also increased by 50% in the past year, per NBC News.

Waffle House Inc. said the increase in egg prices at its establishments are expected to be temporary and will decrease if "market conditions" go back down. 

"Consumers and restaurants are being forced to make difficult decisions," Waffle House Inc. said in a statement. "While we hope these price fluctuations will be short-lived, we cannot predict how long this shortage will last." 

The company's website noted that eggs are its most sold item, and regularly serves approximately 272 million eggs each year. It has served over 4 billion eggs since the company's founding in 1955. Hash browns is another common item on the menu, which the company regularly fills 153 million orders of, and it serves approximately 124 million waffles, per the website. 

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.