Bird Flu-Related Egg Shortages Force Whataburger To Shorten Breakfast Hours

Texas-based restaurant chain Whataburger has cut its breakfast hours short for the time being, citing egg shortages caused by H5N2, the widespread and deadly bird flu virus that has already been identified in at least 14 states.

Beginning in June, Whataburger will serve its breakfast menu between 5 a.m. and 9 a.m. on weekdays and from 5 a.m. to 11 a.m. on weekends "so the restaurants can concentrate the limited supply during peak breakfast hours, while supplies last," the company announced in a press release.

"While our supply team continues to work diligently to source more eggs, we feel a limited time period to serve our breakfast dishes is a better alternative to stop serving them altogether."

Other major chains, including IHOP and Taco Bell, have not yet been affected by the shortages, although similar measures could still be put into effect. An estimated 44 million birds have been culled as a result of this recent outbreak of H5N2.

Whataburger did confirm that it was currently "proactively engaging alternative egg suppliers," as the company's primary supplier was among the hardest hit by the avian flu.

"Replacing the supply we have lost will take some time, but it is important to us to provide the highest quality food to our customers," announced Whataburger. "We will continue to experience some shortages while we work to increase the available supply."