Kroger is limiting ground beef and pork purchases in some stores

[Omaha Steve]

Source: CNN

By Nathaniel Meyersohn and Danielle Wiener-Bronner,

New York (CNN Business)The slowdown at meat processing plants from the coronavirus pandemic has led to a new wave of panic-shopping at supermarkets. Some grocery stores are now imposing limits on meat purchases to prevent barren refrigerator displays.

Kroger (KR), this country's largest supermarket chain, said it is adding purchase limits on ground beef and fresh pork in some stores. Other large grocers say they expect to be out of stock on different types of cuts very soon.

In recent weeks, top meat suppliers have announced temporary closures as their workers fall ill with coronavirus. The United Food and Commercial Workers International Union estimated Tuesday that 20 meatpacking and food processing workers have died so far. The union said last week the closures have resulted in a 25% reduction in pork slaughter capacity and 10% reduction in beef slaughter. President Donald Trump signed an executive order Tuesday to compel meat plants to stay open during the crisis.

Adding to the challenge, meat sales are up around 40% in recent weeks, according to data shared by grocery industry trade group FMI. "The demand for product also makes it difficult to keep the store shelves stocked as they were at pre-pandemic levels," said a spokesperson for the group.

Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2020/05/01/business/kroger-meat-walmart-grocery-stores/index.html

[mucifer]

1. and I can't find vital wheat gluten to make my seitan vegan meat

All sold out on the internet and in stores.

[cayugafalls]

4. A couple of places online to try.

King Arthur Flour
https://shop.kingarthurflour.com/items/vital-wheat-gluten-16-oz?utm_source=Google&utm_medium=CPC&utm_campaign=Shopping&utm_keyword=Vital+Wheat+Gluten+-+16+oz

Olive Nation
https://www.olivenation.com/vital-wheat-gluten.html?sku=BIAC16&gclid=Cj0KCQjwka_1BRCPARIsAMlUmEre6XU6WXunqg5wVIAmMliif0vWShRZSquRi5Ra933kU6iVx4CqwScaAvGwEALw_wcB

Bakers Authority (I've ordered from here before)
https://www.bakersauthority.com/products/vital-wheat-gluten?variant=44666627278

[mucifer]

7. Thanks!!

[Throckmorton]

12. I use Bakers Authority a lot

I buy bulk items there to donate to our local soup kitchen.

[moriah]

8. Seitan is Satan, or at least my gut thinks so....

.... to each their own, but my gut prefers TVP.

[maxsolomon]

2. Yep. Panic buying of meat will lead to big problems.

Already stores have a much more limited selection.

It's not like it's tofu (or vital wheat gluten for that matter), though. Tofu is simply GONE.

[CottonBear]

20. There was no tofu at all at Publix and only a few special seasoned tofu at Kroger.

Aldi doesn’t carry tofu. I’m in Northeast Georgia.

[dixiegrrrrl]

24. FWIW.......

Home made tufu is very good. And not that hard to make.

[Jeebo]

3. Tuesday I went to Gerbes (part of the Kroger chain)

I bought $156 worth of groceries. I was going to buy some ground beef to make Hamburger Helper. There were perhaps a dozen 1-lb. packages of ground beef there, but there were two women at the counter and I decided to wait until they left before approaching the counter.

But then, one of the women coughed. She didn't cough into her elbow or anything, she just coughed.

I still bought the package of Hamburger Helper, but I skipped the ground beef. I'll get some next time.

-- Ron

[BigmanPigman]

5. There will be big food shortages beyond pork and beef.

We were warned three weeks ago about food shortages coming. Andrew Zimmern has been posting and on TV shows warning about this reality. Instead of thinking about dealing with life during Covid, long and short term, people are attending protests. I choose to be a realist and those "open up for freedom" idiots can starve for all I care.

[yaesu]

6. they should have limits of all food items, taking family size into account. nt

[Thekaspervote]

9. Aldi has had limits on many items for weeks now, not just meat

[sinkingfeeling]

10. With current prices, I'm swinging more vegetarian. I can't believe

cube steak at $7.29 a pound.

[EllieBC]

13. It's already been limited where I am which has led to people making multiple trips.

The prices are going up pretty sharply here. I am glad we bought a deep freeze.

[Marthe48]

14. I have enough for me

I know it is selfish of me, but I'm worried about keeping my cats fed. They are all seniors and have really sensitive guts. I switched one over to raw chicken right before Easter, because he kept getting sick eating the canned stuff. Since I switched him, he's is better. The other 2 eat canned food, but can only tolerate one flavor, which was hard to get before this happened. I am eating less meat myself so that I can stretch my supplies.
I've had times in my life where I didn't have money to buy food, but can't remember a time in my life when there wasn't food to buy.

[mnhtnbb]

23. My elderly dog has a sensitive gut and I fix her boiled boneless skinless chicken breast

and white rice to supplement her prescription dog food diet.

Absolutely no rice on the shelves when I went Wednesday to Harris Teeter (North Carolina) and only boneless skinless chicken was anywhere from $13-15 for a 2 lb pack, depending on whether it was organic. I ended up buying the last two packages of breast rib on and will bone/skin it myself. I have enough in the freezer to last about a month. Enough rice to last about a month.

She won't be happy if I can't replenish supplies before they run out. And her gut may react accordingly. Sigh.

The last trip to the emergency vet on a Saturday night with her gut cost me over $1000. in January. Since then, she's been fine on this diet.

[Marthe48]

26. I sympathize for sure

I ordered some Hill's dry sensitive stomach food yesterday. If my cats don't do well on it, I can give it to my daughter. I had tried to give my cat cooked chicken breast, but he didn't eat much of it.

I went to Dollar Tree 10 days ago, the first time I had gone in anywhere since 3/13. They don't have online ordering, and were well stocked. I was looking for rice, but you might try the small general stores and get rice there. Who would have thought there would be food shortages in the U.S.? We were the bread basket of the world, and I just read that the U.S., Canada and Brazil account for 65% of meat products worldwide. And some meat plants in all 3 countries are closed.

Hope you can stay supplied. Thank you for your comments

[Grasswire2]

27. what about baby food chicken?

I have fed that to unwell or fussy kitties.

Yes, it's a little expensive. About the same as a fancy feast, I think.

At least you can store it ahead.

[Marthe48]

31. I might try that

thanks for the idea.

I got the dry food today. At least he likes it. I gave him just a little to see if he digests it.

[Grasswire2]

32. goodness knows the lengths we go to!

I had a kitty who loved deviled ham and also tidbits of melted cheddar.

Current kitty put on a few pounds over the winter with the Temptation catnip-flavored treats. I didn't realize she was gaining weight because she hibernates under blankets in the winter.

[Marthe48]

33. I've had senior cats before

These guys are the worst I've ever had. They are the first 100% indoor. I wonder if I'm seeing more issues just because I'm here with them so much.

My grandson had a violin recital last night on Zoom, and the cats would not leave me alone while it was on. Talk about timing :/

[cstanleytech]

15. So? The varies grocery stores have been limiting meat in my area for weeks both because

freaked out and kept wiping them out and because others were buying as much as they could in order to resell it at a much higher price and profit off of it.

[LanternWaste]

17. "So?" seems a most substantive question from you.

You realize it may be both news and of concern to people not "in your area", yes?

And yet, the best you have is "So?"

And still, the best you have offered is found petulant and without any real merit.

[KT2000]

16. Our Kroger has a limit on eggs

Was not aware there was a shortage of eggs or possibly people panic buying them?
Our local store that sells their own beef was sold out today. Everything - gone!

[LovingA2andMI]

18. There are limits on Eggs....

Due to a big plant in Michigan.....

"BOSTON TWP. – So far, 34 Lansing-area residents are among those impacted by a COVID-19 outbreak at a poultry farm in Ionia County.

Herbruck's Poultry Ranch, located off Interstate 96 between Saranac and Clarksville, first reported one employee who tested positive for the virus two weeks ago.

Since then, the single case has become an outbreak impacting multiple Michigan counties, according to Ingham County Health Officer Linda Vail, who spoke about the outbreak at a Tuesday media briefing.

Herbruck's is the largest egg producer in Michigan, according to a recent company press release.

Vail said the facility employs hundreds of workers, including refugees from other countries who were resettled and live in Ingham County, which was one factor prompting an outreach campaign to provide "critical health information" to refugee communities in the county.

Greg Herbruck, the company's president, said in a statement that the "vast majority of these positive cases originate from an isolated group of employees from our night shift bird crew."

"Most were asymptomatic or showed very mild symptoms, if any," Herbruck added. "None of the positive cases have sought medical treatment and have been recovering at home."

Herbruck did not clarify how many employees have tested positive."

https://www.lansingstatejournal.com/story/news/local/2020/04/28/coronavirus-covid-19-herbrucks-poultry-ranch-ingham-ionia/3043016001/

[KT2000]

19. Thanks!

[riversedge]

21. aldi's had a limit of 2 dozen yesterday when I was shopping. I saw one package of pork chops

all alone in meat depart. I was looking for chicken breasts for my sister. and started looking cause I had know about the shortages. Hamberger was there but limit of 2 packages also.

[Tracer]

22. My local store (Roche Bros.) has limits on meat.

Only two packages of meat per person.

They are blaming it on the supply chain. I guess they could blame all the empty shelves on the supply chain too. But why their shelves are empty when Shaws and Market Basket don't have the same problem.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

25. The Kroger near me has wine - 15% discount if you buy six bottles.

So, who needs meat, if you have enough wine?

[Grasswire2]

28. Is there such a thing as dried eggs?

I have some dry milk. And lots of flour.

[Kaleva]

29. I have 50 lbs. of dried beans on hand

With the quick cooker, I can cook 2 cups (1 pound) of dried beans in about 45 minutes plus 20 or so minutes for the pressure to dissipate.

I have about 15 lbs. of white rice on hand and I want to increase that amount up to 30 lbs..

[madville]

30. My primary diet has been legumes, veggies, rice, olive oil and potatoes for years

Can live quit awhile on that stuff and it's relatively cheap. Haven't had any trouble finding stuff at the store except that first week of panic buying in March and then it seemed to restock everywhere. Can't even remember the last meat I bought at the store and that was well back before all this mess anyway.