Researchers have stressed that bird flu still poses a minimal risk to the general public, though that may change as the virus continues to circulate and potentially mutate. But the many empty shelves in stores and higher prices on the eggs that people can find have raised concerns among consumers about the safety of the egg supply.

Thieves in the US state of Pennsylvania have stolen more than 100,000 eggs - worth $40,000 (£32,000) - from a single grocer. The heist targeted the back of a lorry at Pete & Gerry's Organics in Greencastle on 1 February,

Someone has stolen about 100,000 eggs from a distribution trailer in south-central Pennsylvania as rising egg prices and shortages continue to worry U.S. consumers.

The heist of 100,000 eggs from the back of a trailer in Pennsylvania has become a whodunit that police have yet to crack.

Police in Pennsylvania are scrambling to find the suspects who stole $40,000 worth of organic eggs over the weekend. According to PennLive, the theft took place around 8:40 p.m. at the Pete & Gerry’s Organics warehouse on Commerce Avenue in Antrim Township.

Waffle House serves around 272 million eggs per year, according to its website, well surpassing even its titular waffles, of which it sells just 124 million. "We are continuously monitoring egg prices and will adjust or remove the surcharge as market conditions allow," the statement ended.

Those looking to order eggs with their Waffle House meal should now expect to pay a 50-cent surcharge per egg.

The Waffle House restaurant chain is putting a 50 cent per egg surcharge in place temporarily because of the biggest bird flu outbreak in a decade