Image Source: Burgess Rawson
Kentucky Fried Chicken, one of the most popular fast-food chains in Australia, is currently experiencing a supply shortage of lettuce due to torrential floods that hit many parts of the country. The fast-food chain announced that it would be replacing lettuce with cabbage in its products.
“We’re using a lettuce and cabbage blend on all products containing lettuce until further notice,” the company said in a web post. The post further revealed that the floods in Queensland and New South Wales hurt the crops.
KFC’s bestsellers like the Zinger Burgers and Crunch Twister wrap will be affected by this change. The lettuce shortage has caused a problem for many of its branches in Australia, specifically those located within Victoria, Tasmania, and the Australian Capital Territory.
The company said that a customer could ask not to have cabbage added if they do not want it in their dish.
Food shortages have become a global problem following the pandemic and exacerbated by the conflicts between Ukraine and Russia.
The ban on exports from many countries caused a global shortage in key ingredients used by companies like wheat, sunflower oil and seeds.
Then, climate change comes into the picture. India has since banned wheat exports because of the intense heat, which affected crop productivity. As a result, many countries looked for alternatives to outsourcing wheat.
The recent heavy rains in Australia have caused a shortage of lettuce, one of the most important ingredients for KFC’s famous dishes. The company also encountered problems when it ran out of chicken supply.
In a similar position, KFC Japan has had to temporarily halt the selling of its fries because there were shipment delays on potatoes.
KFC’s milkshakes have been unavailable in the U.K., too, because of a supply shortage over the summer.
However, KFC is not the only food-servicing company affected. With the recent pandemic and strict export policy, many companies are also experiencing shortages. These include popular restaurants such as Taco Bell, Chick-fil-A, and Nando’s, among others.
Source: CNN
Opinions expressed by US Insider contributors are their own.
