A sandwich without the usual tomato slices, pictured at a Burger King branch in New Delhi
(AFP photo)

AFP: Soaring vegetable prices after a poor harvest have prompted Burger King’s Indian branches to ditch tomatoes from their menu, following in the footsteps of other fast-food giants.

“Tomatoes need a holiday too!” read a message in a branch in the capital New Delhi yesterday.
“Due to unpredictable conditions in the quality and supply of tomatoes, we are unable to include tomatoes in our food. We’re doing our best to get tomatoes back in our burgers.”

Operating across India since 2014, the burger franchise has replaced its usual range of beef burgers with a selection of chicken and veggie substitutes to address Hindu objections to beef slaughter.
It’s the latest of several chains to stop selling vegetables. Local media reported that in July, McDonald’s said it was temporarily removing tomatoes from its menus due to “seasonal issues.”

American sandwich chain Subway followed suit that same month, saying it was facing “quality issues.”

Last week, India’s central bank warned that higher food prices were having an impact on household budgets and are likely to get worse. It added that tomato prices had skyrocketed following bad weather and pest infestations in major production belts.

Indian Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the government has lifted import restrictions on sourcing tomatoes from neighboring Nepal to ease pressure on food prices.