The Margin: Live Más with less: Taco Bell warns some menu items might be unavailable due to nationwide shortages

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Craving a late-night Crunchwrap Supreme? You might be out of luck. 

Taco Bell is the latest business hit by supply chain shortages this summer.

“Sorry if we can’t feed your current crave,” a banner on Taco Bell’s website reads. “Due to national ingredient shortages and delivery delays, we may be out of some items.”

“Due to national transportation delays happening throughout most of the industry, we may temporarily be out of some items,” a Taco Bell spokesperson told MarketWatch. “Apologies for the inconvenience and we hope to feed fans’ current Taco Bell cravings again soon.”

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fast food restaurant did not specify which menu items were affected, although the meat supply chain has been particularly vulnerable due to COVID-19.


“We hope to feed fans’ current Taco Bell cravings again soon.”

Meat shortages have continued throughout the pandemic, with major beef shortages last year and a chicken wing shortage in April. And beef and pork-based foods are becoming increasingly expensive. And of course, many of these proteins are key ingredients in Taco Bell’s popular tacos and wraps.

The pandemic has severely impacted global supply chains, as factories across the world shut down and reopened throughout multiple lockdowns. And as the economy continues to recover, increased demand has created supply chain bottlenecks.

Read more: Consumers find shortages and higher prices as COVID-impacted supply chains shift for recovery

Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis President James Bullard said in an interview with The Wall Street Journal that he expects those bottlenecks to continue “all the way through 2021, well into 2022 as the economy continues to reopen and grow very rapidly.”’

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has also been hard hit by supply shortages, leading the coffee chain to apologize to its customers, as well. 

“Due to supply shortages, some items are temporarily unavailable. Check out the menu for new options or ask your barista for a recommendation,” a message on the Starbucks app reads. “We appreciate your patience.”

Employees and customers alike have turned to TikTok to express their dismay about the shortages at the beloved coffee house. One popular video features a Starbucks barista repeatedly lip synching “no” when asked if there are different items available, such as a peach green tea. (Spoiler: none of them are.)

Supply chain shortages are widespread, affecting everything from car prices to hotels to construction. Though the shortages are considerable, the Biden Administration expects the effects to be transitory.

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