Get your turkey subs while you can.
U.S. restaurants and retailers are facing a shortage of turkey-breast meat, with prices at a record high. The nation’s worst outbreak of avian influenza is to blame. The virus killed almost 8 million turkeys this spring, sending production to a 15-year low. The poultry industry is bracing for another outbreak as migrating birds threaten to spread bird flu again this fall.
Hormel Foods Corp. said last week sales volumes at its Jennie-O Turkey Store will be down 20 percent in the second half because of the disease. The effects have now spread to sandwich shops. Jersey Mike’s Subs, a franchise chain with more than 1,500 stores in 40 states, is carrying signs apologizing for being out of the meat.
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