Now, Burger King says tomatoes on ‘vacation’ in India – Times of India

NEW DELHI: First it was McDonald’s. Then Subway did it. Now, Burger King has dropped tomatoes from its wraps and burgers in many Indian outlets.

“Even tomatoes need a vacation … we are unable to add tomatoes to our food,” two Burger King India outlets have posted these notices, Reuters reported on Wednesday.
According to Reuters, the US sandwich chain even cancelled the free cheese slices it offered for years.

“Why are there no tomatoes in my burgers?” reads a question on the support page of Burger King India’s website. The answer states its Indian franchisee follows “very high standards of quality” and tomatoes will be back soon.
“We request your patience and understanding,” it says.
McDonald’s and Subway outlasts had dropped tomatoes from burgers, sandwiches and other dishes last month due to surging prices of veggies.
There has been an almost 8-fold rise in tomato prices in some cities, including in the NCR region. Tomato retail prices in Delhi are varying between Rs 170 to Rs 200 per kilogram, marking a staggering leap of over 700% since January 1.
The substantial price hike, driven by disruptions in supplies caused by heavy rainfall, has generated concern among consumers, prompting many households to temporarily forgo tomatoes—a crucial ingredient in quintessential Indian dishes.
Driven by steep rise in prices of tomatoes, vegetables and other food items, retail inflation spiked to a 15-month high of 7.44 per cent in July.
The CPI-based inflation in the food basket was at 11.51 per cent in July, significantly up from 4.55 per cent in the preceding month, and 6.69 per cent in July 2022, according to the data released by the National Statistical Office (NSO).
In July, the annual inflation in the vegetables basket was at 37.44 per cent, spices at 21.63 per cent, pulses and products at 13.27 per cent, and cereals and products at 13 per cent.
With tomato prices going through the roof, the Centre has announced new measures to ease the burden on the common man.
The consumer affairs ministry has directed cooperatives such as Nafed and NCCF to procure tomatoes from Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Maharashtra for distribution in major consumption centres.
(With inputs from agencies)