Woolworths customers across New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory, and Victoria will face a two-pack limit on egg purchases starting Thursday.
This measure comes as the egg industry grapples with a deadly strain of bird flu impacting supply chains.
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The supermarket giant said the restriction is due to a “delay” in stock following a suspected avian flu outbreak at an egg farm connected to a packing shed.
“Along with other retailers, we’re expecting a short-term delay in stock from one of our egg suppliers in NSW, ACT and Victoria due to the temporary closure of one of their packing sheds,” a Woolworths spokeswoman said.
“Their supply is expected to recover over the next week as they ramp up operations at their other sites,” she said.
“Right now, the majority of customers are only buying one carton of eggs at a time, and there’s no reason that should change,” the spokeswoman added.
Consumers are encouraged to be mindful of others and only buy what they normally would.
An ACT-based commercial egg farm has also been locked down, with products, eggs, and machinery barred from leaving the premises.
“The site’s hens will need to be depopulated.”
This move by Woolworths follows a similar decision by Coles, which imposed egg purchase limits across all stores except in Western Australia starting June 9.
The restrictions come amid growing concerns about the spread of avian flu across state borders.
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