Japanese restaurants drop eggs from menu as many scramble to save costs
- Egg prices are rising on higher feed costs and as an ongoing bird flu outbreak in the country squeezes supplies
- Prices of medium-sized eggs in Tokyo in April are 350 yen (US$2.63) per kilogram, up 65 per cent from a year ago, according to a major egg wholesaler
Major Japanese restaurants chains have taken egg-based dishes off their menus and more establishments are expected to follow suit after an ongoing bird flu outbreak squeezed supplies and pushed up the price of the poultry product.
Higher chicken feed costs have also compounded the crisis which could stretch into next year.
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Though eateries started cracking under the pressure of egg shortage earlier this year, the crunch initially only hit condiments like tartare sauce. But as the situation worsened diners had to forgo other fares, including pancakes and chawanmushi (steamed egg custard).
A Teikoku Databank official said customers would see more egg-based offerings being removed from menus as the scarcity is “likely to last for about six to 12 months”, the Yomiuri newspaper reported.
The Gusto restaurant chain and the Chinese cuisine operator Bamiyan are among the outlets that have stopped serving certain types of meals that contain eggs.
McDonald’s Japan and the 7-Eleven chain of convenience stores, among others, have also suspended certain food items from their menus that require the use of eggs.