Pizza under threat due to pandemic

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Pepperoni lovers may have to learn to be OK with plain pizza for a bit.



Various shortages have struck during the coronavirus pandemic, ranging from toilet paper (which was caused by panic buying during the early days), coins, and even aluminum cans. Now, pepperoni has apparently fallen victim to the pandemic.

Pizza shops across the United States say they’re paying higher prices for the popular topping and have noticed that the supply has become tighter, Bloomberg reports. Restaurants from New York to South Dakota have reportedly seen a significant increase in price, with the cost nearly doubling in some areas.

According to the news outlet, other meat products saw temporary price increases during the pandemic. While ground beef became more expensive earlier in the year, the price has reportedly started to drop. Pepperoni, on the other hand, continues to be expensive.

R-Pizza in Vermillion, South Dakota, told Bloomberg that supply issues forced the restaurant to change suppliers for the first time in nine years.

There are apparently two factors causing the shortage.

The first is that pork processors have had to deal with a reduced number of workers during the pandemic. Pepperoni is reportedly a complicated meat product to make, so some suppliers have reduced the amount being produced.

The other possible reason is that the demand for pizza has risen during the lockdowns and pandemic. With more people staying home for dinner, many families are apparently ordering the popular delivery food (with a significant number requesting pepperoni as a topping).

So far, larger chains have not been impacted by the pepperoni shortage, as they buy ingredients through long term contracts, Bloomberg reports.

Matthew Hyland, the owner of New York City’s Emily, explained to Bloomberg why the restaurant hasn’t raised the cost of its pizza. He said, “It’s an American right to have pepperoni on pizza. Pepperoni is such a huge part of pizza it’s important to us that we keep it accessible.”

Source: Pepperoni shortage strikes small pizza places across the US

Or try vegetarian options, plain pizza is meh. As a semi recent convert, roasted tomatoes and mushrooms with some added Parmesan is just as good.

... looks like the Evangelicals were right..

I am vegetarian. But I won't gloat.

Noooo...

Don't do that lol, I thought it was all pizza.

Thank goodness pineapple pizza is controversial so more Hawaiian for me...

The shortage I've notice is apparently hot peppers. I order a Chinese dish like Kung Pao Chicken and it's not spicy like it should be. The restaurant keeps promising to make it spicy but it keeps coming out mild .

I worked in pizza places when I was younger and I promise that pizza won't end without pepperoni,there are so many items people love from pineapple to eggplant,you wouldn't imagine what people get on there pizza.

Covid will help Pizza places because more people want delivery with less sit down dining available.

I want Pizza.

I just ate pizza

I just ate pizza too 14" bbq base , chicken, smokey bacon & pineapple

Oh good I don't have any liking for pepperoni.
just ate leftover from yesterday which looks like a white pizza to me...the white is apparently thick yogurt though it looks like a type of cheese too..

It is from Lebanese restaurant so I assumed it was healthy.

Hope apples never run out or succumb to diseases that ruin stock..

. 'american as apple pie' ..

if both pepperoni pizza and apple pie become extinct that will surely require national / international day of mourning.

Urban Decay staged a funeral for their eyeshadow palette... this is actually important in comparison..

If we ran out of tomatoes we would probably never smile again. Pizza without tomato sauce is especially sad