Wetherspoon has made a huge change to its menu due to a major food shortage. The UK's most popular pub chain is currently not serving free-range eggs on its breakfast menu due to the shortages. The change was confirmed after signs were displayed in several of its over 850 branches. Instead of the egg, pub-goers would receive an extra hash brown - or an onion ring. Wetherspoons says a range of alternative requests were available at its branches.
A sign from a Wetherspoon in Manchester read: “Free-range egg supply shortages. Because of free-range egg shortages, we will be replacing eggs with a hash brown on the following dishes: Large traditional breakfast, traditional breakfast, small breakfast, large vegetarian breakfast, vegetarian breakfast, small vegetarian breakfast freedom breakfast. If you would like an alternative item, please order at the bar - and we will assist you with this. Apologies for any inconvenience which this may cause.”.
In a statement on the issue, a Wetherspoon spokesperson explained that it sourced some of its free-range eggs from suppliers and farms in Northern Ireland. However, after a recent outbreak of the Avian Flu, egg availability has been put under pressure due to measures taken by the Department of Agriculture, Environment, and Rural Affairs.
The full statement read: "We source some of our free range eggs from suppliers and farms based in Northern Ireland. The recent outbreak of Avian flu has put pressure on egg availability with measures put in place by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs to restrict the spread. We are working with all of our egg suppliers to reduce disruption in pubs.".
Punters have taken to social media over the last few days to vent their frustration over the change. One person said on a social media page dedicated to the chain: “What a clucking liberty.” Others confirmed that their local spots in Brighton and Somerset had no eggs with breakfast this week, with a third adding: “First a Guinness shortage and now no eggs. What’s happening to the world?” However, other shared that their local Spoons was still serving them.
Many were upset over the news, with one person saying that they would not be in for breakfast if there were no eggs. Another added: "It’s not a full English without the eggs." A third shared: "Eggstremely annoying.". Serve the food you really want to eat by signing up for our tips and recipes and never be bored by your cooking again.
