Burger King Follows McDonald’s in Cutting Tomatoes From its India Menu

The iconic tomato, a culinary staple in Indian cuisine, is facing scarcity on fast food menus as Burger King becomes the latest chain to grapple with the consequences of soaring tomato prices in the country. This issue follows in the footsteps of McDonald’s, which recently announced the temporary removal of tomatoes from its burgers due to quality concerns and supply shortages.

Burger King’s Indian outlets have now informed customers that they are currently “unable to add tomatoes.” The fast food giant addressed the matter on its website, assuring patrons that tomatoes will return shortly. The absence is attributed to “unpredictable conditions on the quality and supply of tomato crops.” While it remains uncertain whether all Burger King stores are affected, this decision reflects the broader challenges posed by rising inflation in India.

The central bank of India recently revised its inflation forecast for the fiscal year, raising it to 5.4% from the previous estimate of 5.1%. The driving force behind this upward trend is the escalating cost of certain food items, including tomatoes, in the populous nation. The central bank expressed concerns that elevated vegetable prices, particularly tomatoes, could exert significant upward pressure on near-term inflation figures.

Subway, another prominent fast food chain in India, also introduced adjustments to its menu to account for rising costs. The Indian outlets of Subway announced an additional charge of 30 rupees ($0.40) for a cheese slice in most sandwiches.

The soaring tomato prices, which have surged by over 400% in recent months, are primarily attributed to crop failures resulting from intense heat waves and heavy rainfall. Farmers and agriculture experts emphasize that extreme weather conditions associated with climate change have played a substantial role in driving up costs. While prices have slightly moderated in August, the stark increase remains notable. A kilogram (2.2 pounds) of tomatoes in New Delhi reached a cost of 107 rupees ($1.29), a substantial leap from the 27 rupees ($0.33) recorded in January, as reported by the Department of Consumer Affairs.

Jocelyn Boiteau, a post-doctoral associate at the Tata-Cornell Institute for Agriculture and Nutrition, highlighted the connection between climate change and the tomato shortage. Boiteau explained that only select regions in India’s south possess suitable conditions for tomato cultivation during the summer months. Consequently, any climate-related disturbances in these areas can lead to nationwide ramifications for fresh tomato supply.

This predicament has brought attention to India’s vulnerability to the climate crisis, with the nation experiencing both extreme rainfall and blistering heat waves during the summer season. Amid these challenges, the fundamental role of tomatoes in Indian cuisine underscores the broader implications of the soaring prices, impacting not only fast food chains but the daily lives of the population.