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Where’s the beef? Some Wendy’s take burgers off menu due to meat shortage

Wendy's restaurants in some locations across the country have temporarily booted burgers from their menus due to coronavirus-related closures at meat processing facilities that have disrupted the meat industry.

"Where's the beef?" was a common refrain on Twitter bemoaning the outages. That's a reference to the famous Wendy's marketing catch-phrase of yore.

Wendy's customers ask 'Where's the beef?' as restaurants remove menu items

Bloomberg News reported burger outages at Wendy's locations in California. There were other reports of meatless joints in South Carolina, Detroit, and Kentucky

Wendy’s is now taking hamburgers off the menu in response to that headline tied to the nation’s meat shortage. @VickyNguyenTV has more on new concerns about America’s food supply and shares alternative ways you can buy meat. pic.twitter.com/iB5P7Bje9r

— TODAY (@TODAYshow) May 5, 2020

Wendy's acknowledged the disruption in a statement, citing "production challenges."

"As you’ve likely heard, beef suppliers across North America are currently facing production challenges," the statement said.

"Because of this, some of our menu items may be in short supply from time to time at some restaurants in this current,

environment. We continue to supply hamburgers to all of our restaurants, with deliveries two or three times a week. We’re working diligently to minimize the impact to our customers and restaurants, and continue to work with our supplier partners to monitor this closely."

U.S. Meat Shortage Leaves Some Wendy’s Without Hamburgers

Representatives for other fast-food chains -- McDonald's, Burger King and Arby's -- did not immediately respond to NBC's request for comments Tuesday on whether they also faced supply chain issues.

McDonald's and Burger King told Restaurant Business Online last week they did not have issues with sourcing beef.

A particular challenge with Wendy's is the company's reliance on sourcing fresh meat, Restaurant Business Online reported. And the cost of sourcing 50% beef trim has, 

soared to $1.93 per pound recently, up from 25 cents last month, the outlet reported.

The supply-chain issues continue after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Friday there were more than 4,913, 

cases of COVID-19 among workers at 115 

cases of COVID-19 among workers at 115 facilities meat and poultry processing facilities in more than 19 states. There have been 20 deaths recorded.

"Improving physical distancing, hand hygiene, cleaning and disinfection, and medical leave policies, and providing, 

educational materials in languages spoken by workers might help reduce COVID-19 in these settings and help preserve the function of this critical infrastructure industry," the CDC said.

After more than a dozen meat processing plants closed in response to the outbreak, President Donald Trump issued an, 

executive order last week

executive order last week to require them to stay open. But even as some plants have begun to reopen on a slower production, 

schedule, many workers have stayed home sick or out of fear that their workplaces still aren't safe, The Associated Press reported.

Overall, closures have affected 25% of pork production and 10% of beef production in the U.S, according to Bloomberg News.

Tyson Foods, the nation's largest meat supplier, said Monday that pork processing was most affected, down 50%, The Washington Post reported.

In response to the upheaval, giant food retailers Costo and Kroger's have said they will limit customer purchases of beef and pork products.