The incredible lengths New Yorkers go to to buy chicken eggs

An outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza has caused egg prices to skyrocket across the United States. This is an acute contagious viral The infection has killed more than 23 million chickens this year alone. Grocers in New York City have even begun selling the stuff because of the shortage. eggs by the piece Some New Yorkers are forced to resort to various tricks to get their hands on this essential product, reports NYPost.

Trader Joe's (Upper West Side) is cracking down on shoppers who find weaknesses in its one-tray-per-household policy.

Trader Joe's has maintained some of the lowest prices on eggs since bird flu prompted a price hike to $15,99 a dozen. The store was selling them for about $3,99 a pack until they ran out.

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Shoppers began stocking up on eggs, trying to buy up to 15 boxes at a time. Last month, the store introduced a strict policy in response to such actions.

What New Yorkers Do for Eggs

In response, egg lovers at the store on Broadway and West 72nd Street began to adapt.
Some people buy one pack, leave the store and immediately return for another one, hoping that no one will notice.

Married couples swear they don't live with their significant others to get around the rule.

Recently, a family tried to get their two elementary school-aged children to buy a box each. The parents split up to buy more. One child managed to buy eggs, but the other was caught.

"We strive to be fair," the store manager said.

On a recent weekday, around 12:30 p.m., a crowd had gathered before the second and final batch of eggs for the day arrived.

Queens resident Flor Londise said she stopped by the UWS Trader Joe's near her work twice a day to stock up on supplies.

Flor said she would buy two trays of eggs, but she knows she will get caught.

"I don't want to embarrass myself," said Londise, 50. "I think I'll have to come back tomorrow - that's the only way."

Prices have fallen 16% in recent weeks, but complaints about illegal price gouging of eggs and poultry in New York have risen sharply.

The New York Attorney General's Office received 151 complaints of price gouging between January 1 and March 10, an 840% increase from last year.

For such speculative actions, the Prosecutor General's Office can impose fines of up to $25 on companies, but to date it has not issued a single decision on violations.