June 9, 2020

Wendy's beef menu items return signals end of US beef crisis

Beef returns to fast food restaurant chain Wendy's menus as US meat slaughterhouses steadily resume operations, Bloomberg reported.

Wendy's supply chain was disrupted by temporary closures of US meat plants due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The restaurant was forced to promote only its chicken products as more meat plant workers were infected with the virus, disrupting operations.

However, slaughterhouses have increased operations with more workers back on the job. The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) said wholesale beef prices have dropped from recent record levels, now falling 18 days consecutively.

Wendy's said in a statement that beef supply in all its restaurants in the US have returned to close to normal levels.

US meatpacking unions are concerned that COVID-19 will continue to spread in these facilities as it is difficult to work and practice social distancing. Analysts continue to monitor possible future meat supply threats.

-      Bloomberg