SUMMER BBQs are under threat because too many butchers and meat factory workers are being been pinged by the Covid app.
Shoppers could see a shortage of meat, including lamb chops and steaks, and fewer items on supermarket shelves the meat industry has warned.
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With weather set to hit 31C, families are set to go BBQ mad – with Tesco already reporting a big jump in sales.
Over the weekend, it alone will sell one million burgers and one million sausages.
But around one in 10 meat industry workers have been forced into self-isolation after being sent an alert by the NHS Covid app, leaving a shortfall of staff.
The number of people being pinged by the app has created a widespread “pingdemic” that is threatening pubs and hospital staff too.
Businesses are having to cut down the range of meat products they’re offering because of the lack of staff.
Nick Allen, head of the British Meat Processors Association (BMPA), told The Sun: “People are going to find this weekend as the BBQ season unfolds the choice they have is a lot more limited.
“Producers have to cut down the range they produce. Real meat connoisseurs will notice a difference the most.
“If you are happy to throw any burger or sausage on the BBQ you might be fine, but if you like to pick say nice cumberland or a fancy burger it won’t be as simple.
“They will cut out the full range of burgers and sausages. Fancier cuts like butterfly lamb and some steaks will also be limited.”
Around 10% of the meat processing industry’s 97,000-strong workforce have been forced to self-isolate.
If that increase to 15% it would create a critical staffing level that could threaten the food supply chain, and even trigger an intervention by the government to keep things moving.
Mr Allen, whose trade body represents factories that produce 90% of beef, pork and lamb, also warned that getting meat out to shops is under threat too.
He added: “The haulage side is going to be a bigger issue – getting meat and other food out to warehouses and shops.
“Our members are saying we are struggling to keep plant going but the bigger problem is getting it to the right place at the right time.
“The UK has a 24/7 food chain and if one or two bits are struggling to keep up, there are problems. Supermarkets don’t keep big stocks at the back of stores. They rely on daily deliveries.
“The whole food supply chain over the next two weeks will be challenged. Demand for fresh meat and produce is going through the roof.
“We have more people in the country as they cannot go on holiday and on top of that the weather is picking up and restrictions lifting – together pushing up demand.”
It comes as 500,000 people are self-isolating everyday, with businesses – including Wetherspoons – having to close venues at short notice due to staff shortages.
Shops and boozers have been calling for the government to tweak the NHS Covid app to avoid it causing further chaos to staffing issues.
Meat isn’t the only fridge staple that could be in short supply this summer either.
A shortage of Haribo sweets is expected to hit the UK this summer due to a lorry driver shortfall that could threaten Britain’s supermarket shelves.
Haribo confirmed it is “experiencing challenges” getting sweets into shops.
Meanwhile, a Cadbury 99p flake shortage hit the UK in May due to an unprecedented demand for the crumbly chocolate.
Cadbury confirmed to The Sun that supply has failed to keep up with a boom in demand for the ice-cream topping staple across the country and Ireland too.
The Sun revealed there was a national shortage of baby milk across shops including Tesco and Boots earlier this year.
Sainsbury’s warned shoppers about a national pet food shortage earlier this year.
Pedigree and Chappie dog foods were recently recalled over fears they could contain dangerous levels of vitamin D.
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