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| Burger King Slats tomato-free in India due to inflation |
The fast-food chain "Burger King" has announced that it will no longer include tomato slices in its sandwiches in many of its branches in India. This decision comes as prices have surged to four times their previous levels, marking the latest indicator of increasing food price inflation that has significantly impacted consumers across the country.
Signs have been posted at two "Burger King" branches in India with the message: "Even tomatoes need a break. We can't add tomato slices to our food," according to the Reuters agency. The renowned restaurant chain pointed to quality-related issues as an explanation for this shortage.
Joining the ranks of "McDonald's" and "Subway," "Burger King," one of the largest food chains in India with around 400 outlets, has also opted to omit tomato slices from its menu offerings. Food price inflation in India reached its highest level since January 2022 in the past week.
Additionally, the American chain has also ceased offering complimentary cheese slices that it had provided for years.
Meanwhile, the competing chain "Domino's" attempted to align its prices with struggling consumers. The price of pizza was reduced to $0.60, making it the cheapest pizza in the world.
Reasons for the crisis:
- The tomato crisis coincided with a price increase of 450%, marking its highest surge.
- The country experienced seasonal rainfall that damaged crops and disrupted supply chains, although its intensity has slightly diminished.
To address the supply crisis, India began importing tomatoes from Nepal and dispatched trucks to distribute essential goods at lower prices throughout the country. Social media posts showcase long queues of people gathering to purchase tomatoes from these trucks.