Lidl have been forced to ration eggs due to a potential product shortage on the horizon with shoppers being limited as to how much they can buy.
The limit, as reported by MEN, is now restricted to three boxes per person with a note having been placed in one of their stores, as seen on a picture on Twitter.
It's not clear how many stores have implemented this limit and comes as pub chain Wetherspoon have warned customers that the "temporary supply issues" may mean its breakfast menu is altered in some boozers.
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Shoppers have been sharing photos from in stores, showing bare shelves where eggs should be. One Tesco customer posted an image on Twitter showing signs that read: "Due to the hot summer we are currently experiencing low availability across our egg range.
"Sorry for any inconvenience." Another photo posted from inside a Sainsbury’s showed a sign that read: "We are currently experiencing supply issues across our fresh egg range. We are working hard to resolve these and apologise for any inconvenience caused."
Similarly, an Aldi shopper tweeted: "Have you stopped selling fresh eggs online because of bird flu? I could not add any to my click and collect order. I will have to buy them from somewhere else now separately."
And one Lidl customer asked: "Why have you no eggs in your stores?" with another Lidl shop has started rationing eggs, according to a picture posted by Grocery Insight CEO Steve Dresser.
A sign read: "Eggs are limited to three units per customer to ensure that everyone has the essentials they need."
Andrew Opie, Director of Food and Sustainability at the British Retail Consortium, which represents the UK supermarkets, said stores are "working hard" to " minimise impact on customers".
He added: "While avian flu has disrupted the supply of some egg ranges, retailers are experts at managing supply chains."
It comes as the price of a box of a dozen eggs has already risen by more than 22 per cent, according to official figures.
So why is this happening? Here is what you need to know.
Why are egg supplies under threat?
Farmers are being hit by a mixture of rising prices and an outbreak of bird flu.
The British Free Range Egg Producers Association (BFREPA) told the BBC farmers were being squeezed by the price of chicken feed - which has spiked due to the Ukraine war - and sky-high energy costs. Its members claim they've only received between 5p and 10p more despite the price of a dozen eggs rising by about 45p in the supermarkets since March.
"Feeding hens is now at least 50% more expensive than it was, and energy prices have soared in the same way that consumers have seen their domestic bills rise," the BFREPA said in a statement. Spending on fuel has grown by 30%, while labour and packaging also costs more."
A recent survey of 163 farmers affiliated with the BFREPA show 33% have already reduced or stopped their egg production. Farmers are also suffering following the biggest ever outbreak of Avian Influenza, which has resulted in millions of birds being culled or killed.
There has also been a knock-on effect of birds dying during the heatwave this summer. However, the Department Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has denied there are any supply chain issues.
A spokesperson said: "We understand the difficulties the bird flu outbreak is causing for farmers, however the laying hen population is approximately 38million so it's unlikely to affect the overall supply."
Lidl, Tesco, Sainsbury's and Aldi have been contacted for comment.
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