Food shortages have impacted the Wetherspoons food chain once again as the firm has been hit with an egg crisis. The breakfast menu at the UK's largest pub chain has a major limitation for the time being.
The "temporary supply issues" are being blamed on the current impact of avian flu on egg production. Wetherspoons is currently managing it by offering alternatives to their diners while senior supermarket sources have said urgent talks are under way on how to manage the egg crisis.
The alternatives on the Wetherspoons breakfast menu now, according to the Mirror, are currently hash browns, sausage or onion rings. Wetherspoons spokesman Eddie Gershon told The Sun: "We can confirm that there are temporary issues with egg supplies at some Wetherspoon pubs, due to the current impact of Avian flu on egg production.
READ MORE: Rooftop Nottingham bar with panoramic views of city goes on the market
“We are experiencing issues in receiving all the supplies we require to satisfy demand in every pub. This is not specific to Wetherspoon and other hospitality operators and supermarkets are facing similar issues."
The egg shortage has been partly caused by another outbreak of avian flu but also a delayed knock-on impact from millions of birds dying during the summer’s heatwave.
Many have taken to Twitter to comment on the crisis:
One Twitter user, @McClumsy84, said: "Never mind a cost of living crisis in the UK, now we have an egg crisis."
A woman under the name of Let Us Talk About It said: "I bet those tories are crying, imagine experiencing a shortage of an egg and not heating, water or electric."
@Triggergnomics said: "So it's just beans on toast then.....no shortage of them.
Stephen Russell added: "Brexit strikes again!"
Back in August of this year, the Department of Environment, Farming and Rural Affairs stated it was "deeply concerned" about the scale of chicken mortalities in industrial chicken sheds.
Many of the birds, mostly broiler chickens bread for meat and not laying eggs, were dying from heat exhaustion when summer temperatures reached record highs in Britain. Also, farmers are leaving the industry in droves as rising costs stifle their ability to make profit from farms and smallholds.
This means fewer hens are laying eggs than ever before and because of rising costs, this has meant that it is harder for farmers and smallholders to make a profit.
However, this is not the first time Wetherspoons has been hit by shortages. In August 2020 the chain ran out of ketchup economic impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic with supply chain issues last year causing some Wetherspoons pubs ran out of booze.
In May, Wetherspoons boss Tim Martin warned of a slew of major changes due to increased labour, food and energy costs. This included various price hikes, with the price of beer in some pubs by up to 29%.
The UK has faced its largest outbreak of bird flu with more than 200 cases confirmed on commercial premises, smallholdings, and in pet birds since October last year.
A farmer who was forced to kill his entire flock of 10,000 turkeys warned that UK Christmas dinner tables may be left empty. Steve Childerhouse, 51, said producers had been “absolutely hammered” by the UK’s worst-ever outbreak of avian flu this year,
He stated that the usual stock levels of turkeys and geese are “just not going to be there” this winter.
READ NEXT:
- COOK says all its turkeys are already frozen amid sell-out fears
- Professional Nottingham chefs putting together hassle-free luxury Christmas dinners
- Domino's launches new spicy pizza and loaded wedges
- Birds Eye and Deliveroo offering takeaway meals for £3
- McDonald's is giving double points of a McPlant today
