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| Unsure as eggs: Texas supermarket introduces rationing due to bird flu | Unsure as eggs: Texas supermarket introduces rationing due to bird flu |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Related: Midwest bird flu outbreak raises egg and poultry prices | Related: Midwest bird flu outbreak raises egg and poultry prices |
| A large Texas supermarket chain has begun rationing eggs, in the face of a growing national shortage brought about by an outbreak of avian flu. | A large Texas supermarket chain has begun rationing eggs, in the face of a growing national shortage brought about by an outbreak of avian flu. |
| Customers shopping at many outlets of the H-E-B chain of supermarkets have been confronted by notices telling them they are restricted to buying three cartons of a dozen eggs per shopper. | Customers shopping at many outlets of the H-E-B chain of supermarkets have been confronted by notices telling them they are restricted to buying three cartons of a dozen eggs per shopper. |
| The move follows an announcement by another Texas-based firm, Whataburger, that it is shrinking the hours on weekday mornings during which it will serve egg dishes as part of its breakfast menu. | The move follows an announcement by another Texas-based firm, Whataburger, that it is shrinking the hours on weekday mornings during which it will serve egg dishes as part of its breakfast menu. |
| Notices have been going up across H-E-B’s 350 supermarkets, aimed at stopping commercial businesses, such as restaurants, clearing the shelves of eggs. | Notices have been going up across H-E-B’s 350 supermarkets, aimed at stopping commercial businesses, such as restaurants, clearing the shelves of eggs. |
| “The purchase of eggs is limited to three cartons per customer,” the notices read, according to a local news report in Texas on Thursday. The company issued a statement that called the situation temporary, but was not able to tell customers when ordinary shopping would resume. | “The purchase of eggs is limited to three cartons per customer,” the notices read, according to a local news report in Texas on Thursday. The company issued a statement that called the situation temporary, but was not able to tell customers when ordinary shopping would resume. |
| The outbreak of bird flu began in the midwest. Across much of the nation, egg prices have been rising, along with prices for chicken and turkey meat. | The outbreak of bird flu began in the midwest. Across much of the nation, egg prices have been rising, along with prices for chicken and turkey meat. |
| “The United States is facing a temporary disruption in the supply of eggs due to the avian flu,” the statement said. “H-E-B is committed to ensuring Texas families and households have access to eggs. The signs placed on our shelves last week are to deter commercial users from buying eggs in bulk.” | “The United States is facing a temporary disruption in the supply of eggs due to the avian flu,” the statement said. “H-E-B is committed to ensuring Texas families and households have access to eggs. The signs placed on our shelves last week are to deter commercial users from buying eggs in bulk.” |
| Whataburger, a family-owned fast-food chain based in San Antonio and controlling more than 700 outlets, posted a message on its Facebook page about its newly restricted breakfast rules. | |
| The company announced that from 1 June it would cut back breakfast hours to 5am to 9am Monday to Friday, instead of serving such dishes until 11am. At weekends, the chain will continue to serve egg-based breakfast items until 11am. | The company announced that from 1 June it would cut back breakfast hours to 5am to 9am Monday to Friday, instead of serving such dishes until 11am. At weekends, the chain will continue to serve egg-based breakfast items until 11am. |
| “We know this is no fun for anyone and hope this doesn’t last long, and we apologise [that] the supply of eggs currently cannot meet demand,” the company said. | “We know this is no fun for anyone and hope this doesn’t last long, and we apologise [that] the supply of eggs currently cannot meet demand,” the company said. |
| It continued by saying that if customers attending its restaurants found the kitchen was out of eggs, even within the new hours, “we sure don’t want you leaving hungry”. | It continued by saying that if customers attending its restaurants found the kitchen was out of eggs, even within the new hours, “we sure don’t want you leaving hungry”. |
| Whataburger hopes customers will choose other items from the breakfast menu. | Whataburger hopes customers will choose other items from the breakfast menu. |