Hold the mayo as Japan egg shortage hits McDonald’s, 7-Eleven

TOKYO – McDonald’s, 7-Eleven and mayonnaise-maker Kewpie are just some of the companies in Japan contending with the worst-ever global outbreak of bird flu. 

Of 100 listed restaurant companies in Japan, 18 had suspended egg-related items as at March 5, according to Teikoku Databank.

Fewer hens led to a near-doubling in the wholesale price of the farm staple to 327 yen (S$3.22) a kg in February from the year before, the research company said on Tuesday.

That means McDonald’s Teritama Muffin is off the menu. The breakfast sandwich, which combines egg, sausage and teriyaki sauce, is typically offered in spring each year. The fast-food giant has also warned it could halt sales of hamburgers that contain eggs if supply disruptions persist.

Japan is just one of many countries wrestling with an outbreak of bird flu that has sent egg prices skyrocketing in the United States and caused a shortage of baby chicks in China.

At a time of heightened inflation fears worldwide, the unprecedented spread of the disease is yet another reminder of the grim impact of pandemics on food markets.

Japan confirmed its first case in October, beginning the earliest bird flu season the country has seen, according to the Agriculture Ministry. The disease has spread to more than half the nation’s prefectures, forcing the authorities to cull around 15 million birds, the ministry said.

Seven & i Holdings’ 7-Eleven, one of the many convenience stores ubiquitous across Japan, suspended the sale of some egg products in January.

Other measures have included using vegetables instead of eggs in its tuna sandwiches, as well as increasing the portion of meat in its ham and egg offering.

Condiment-makers Kewpie and Ajinomoto have said they will raise prices from April for products such as mayonnaise and tartar sauce amid the surge in costs of one of their key ingredients. 

Bloomberg