NEW DELHI/CHENNAI — Burger King has scrapped tomatoes from its wraps and burgers in many Indian outlets after prices more than quadrupled, the latest symptom of surging food inflation that is hitting consumers hard across the world’s most populous nation.
“Even tomatoes need a vacation … we are unable to add tomatoes to our food,” read notices pasted at two Burger King India outlets. The chain has cited quality issues in explaining the shortfall.
The burger chain, one of India’s biggest with nearly 400 outlets, joins many McDonald’s and Subway stores that have removed tomatoes from menus as India’s food inflation this week hit its highest since January 2020.
The US sandwich chain even canceled the free cheese slices it offered for years.
Rival Domino’s, meanwhile, has tried bringing down prices to appeal to struggling consumers with a $0.60 pizza — its cheapest in the world.
The tomato supply crisis has coincided with a surge in prices by as much as 450% to record highs as monsoon rains disrupted crop and supply chains — although they have since eased.
“Why are there no tomatoes in my burgers?” reads a question on the support page of Burger King India’s web site. The answer states its Indian franchisee follows “very high standards of quality” and that tomatoes will be back soon. “We request your patience and understanding,” it says.
Restaurant Brands Asia, which operates Burger King in India, did not respond to requests for comment.
To manage the supply crisis, India has started tomato imports from Nepal, and has organized vans to distribute the staple at cheaper rates across the nation, with social media posts showing huge queues. — Reuters