Worker shortages, a lack of truckers, and shifting demand could all threaten the main course at Thanksgiving dinner this year, as turkey giant Butterball warns that smaller birds may be more difficult to find.
Butterball executive Rebeca Welch said that, similar to last year, many families are planning smaller gatherings next month due to pandemic concerns, sending demand for smaller birds up.
'We did see that about a third of consumers are planning to have a smaller gathering this year due to concerns about COVID-19 and the Delta variant,' Welch told WLS-TV, warning consumers who want smaller turkeys to put orders in early.
It came days after US regulators recalled 14,107 pounds of Butterball ground turkey products that may be contaminated with shards of blue plastic, raising further concerns about supplies.
Butterball executive Rebeca Welch said that, similar to last year, many families are planning smaller Thanksgiving gatherings, sending demand for smaller birds up
Frozen turkeys are pictured in a Manhattan freezer case last November. Labor shortages and shifting demand are raising fears of a turkey shortage this year
The recall order affects certain packages of Butterball and Kroger store brand ground turkey with establishment number 'EST. P-7345' inside the USDA mark of inspection.
Meanwhile, turkey farmers say that the national labor shortage is impacting production, limiting capacity in processing and transport.
'I've been real worried about getting temporary help for the dressing season,' Robert Kauffman, a turkey farmer in
