The current salad shortage has forced pub chain Wetherspoons to change its breakfast meal. A major alterations has been made to the popular budget blowout.
Bosses at Wetherspoons say there have been left with no option but to remove tomatoes from plates. For years, this breakfast staple has been served with the traditional eggs, bacon and sausage.
Unfortunately, tomato supplies are not set to get back to normal until early May. Shortages are being blamed on bad weather in Europe which has affected crop yields for tomatoes and other salad items.
Read more: McDonald's is bringing back sell-out burger along with a new Steakhouse Stack
Before the shortage, the bargain £6.88 breakfast meal included two sausages, two rashers of bacon, two fried eggs, a large mushroom slice, a tomato, three hash browns, baked beans and four half slices of toast. But now the tomato has vanished from the meal.
Pub-goers are also unable to add grilled tomatoes as an extra with the item listed as 'out of stock'. The item has also been banished from its traditional and small breakfasts – along with lunchtime items such as burgers and steak.
Cucumbers also seem to be in short supply. The pub has now put up posters explaining the shortages.
One reads: "There is a national supply issue affecting tomato and cucumber in some pubs. This means some menu dishes, such as breakfasts, burgers and steaks, will be served without tomatoes.
"Salads which accompany a meal, such as lasagne and jacket potatoes, will now be made with mixed salad leaves, red onion and salad dressing. Thank you for your understanding."
DevonLive reports that, responding to the concerns raised by punters, Wetherspoons spokesman Eddie Gershon said: "Supply of tomatoes to our pubs is around 70 to 80% of normal levels. We are working with our suppliers to improve availability."
Last week, however, Aldi said it would remove all customer limits on buying fresh produce as supply issues which led to widespread shortages began to ease. The supermarket joined Lidl and Asda in lifting restrictions.
Aldi said in a statement: “From Monday (March 13), Aldi will remove all purchasing restrictions on fresh produce – including limits on tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers.” Lidl also lifted all restrictions on fruit and veg the same day.
Asda said it had removed limits of three on cucumbers, lettuce, salad bags, broccoli, cauliflower and raspberries, leaving restrictions of three on tomatoes and peppers. The supermarket said availability overall had improved as expected and supplies of tomatoes and peppers are expected to be back to normal within a couple of weeks.
READ MORE:
