Many meat processing plants have closed as a result of coronavirus.
According to the Washington Post, "The coronavirus has sickened workers and forced slowdowns and closures of some of the country’s biggest meat processing plants, reducing production by as much as 25 percent, industry officials say, and sparking fears of a further round of hoarding."
With that in mind, several Wendy's locations have taken beef items off their menu--including their famous burger.
The chain, which typically serves "fresh, never frozen" beef, spoke about the changes to their menu to Restaurant Business: ""Some of our menu items may be in short supply from time to time at some restaurants in this current environment. We expect this to be temporary, and we're working diligently to minimize the impact to our customers and restaurants."
United Food and Commercial Workers International Union President Marc Perrone explained the closures in a statement, emphasizing the importance of protecting the meatpacking workers: "To protect America’s food supply, America’s meatpacking workers must be protected. The reality is that these workers are putting their lives on the line every day to keep our country fed during this deadly outbreak, and at least 20 meatpacking workers have tragically died from coronavirus while more than 5,000 workers have been hospitalized or are showing symptoms. For the sake of all our families, we must prioritize the safety and security of these workers."
Wendy's is just one of the many places that is (or will be) affected by these shortages. Their updated menu reflects these changes, as customers are limited to chicken and sides in affected locations.