U.S. grocers limit customer meat purchases amid coronavirus-shortage fears

Major U.S. grocery chains are limiting the amount of meat products that customers can buy, as meat-processing plants across the county remain shutdown as a result of infection among employees.

The GIANT Company at the end of last week implemented quantity limits on some products, according to company spokesperson Ashley Flower. However, the company is not facing significant supply issues.

"In order to ensure we’re providing for as many customers as possible, we are implementing purchase limits – two per day per household – on select meat, poultry and pork categories until further notice," Flower said.

She also said that coronavirus-related issues could limit customer choices.

According to a statement provided by Wegmans, the grocery chain near the start of the pandemic implemented restrictions on certain chicken and beef family packs.

"Beginning in March, we placed a two-item purchase limit on Family Pack 80% Ground Beef and Family Pack Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breast. Around that same time, we also started encouraging customers to prioritize their needs and limit all meat department purchases," the statement explains.

Wegmans noted that the pandemic has affected the meat supply so stores may not have always have all assortments available in the weeks ahead.

"We do not expect to see a shortage of meat proteins available to our customers," the company also said.

Costco is another brand that has cracked down on the quantity of meats shoppers can purchase. "Fresh meat purchases are temporarily limited to a total of 3 items per member among the beef, pork and poultry products," the company says on its website.

Kroger spokesperson April Martin said that the store is "limiting the number of ground beef, fresh pork and fresh chicken products to two each per customer," the Dallas News reported.