McDonald’s has shortened its breakfast service in Australia by 90 minutes due to an egg shortage caused by bird flu outbreaks that have led to the culling of around 1.5 million chickens.
From Tuesday, breakfast will end at 10:30 a.m. instead of midday, the fast-food chain announced. “Like many retailers, we are carefully managing supply of eggs due to current industry challenges,” McDonald’s said, adding it was working with farmers to restore normal service.
Australia has confirmed outbreaks of several avian influenza strains at 11 poultry farms in the southeast since May. Authorities say fewer than 10% of egg-laying hens have been affected and that the virus is being contained.
Retailers have imposed egg-purchase limits, and some shelves have run empty late in the day, industry body Australian Eggs said. Still, more than 20 million hens remain in production nationwide.
None of the strains detected are the highly pathogenic H5N1 virus circulating globally. Australia has recorded 10 avian influenza outbreaks since 1976, all contained and eradicated.
