Fast-food giant KFC is putting cabbage in its burgers and wraps as Australia struggles with a lettuce shortage.
KFC told customers through an online statement they'd "hit a bit of an Iceberg" and are experiencing some lettuce supply chain disruptions as a result of the Queensland and NSW floods which wiped out crops earlier this year.
The fast-food chain has now resorted to using a lettuce and cabbage blend on all products containing lettuce until further notice.
"We appreciate you all being Little Gems as we work to get things back to normal," the statement read.
"If that's not your bag, simply click 'Customise' on your chosen product and remove Lettuce from the Recipe," it added with a smiley face emoji.
Subway also made a similar announcement on its website on Wednesday, under a notice titled 'lettuce explain'.
“Being a fresh food company means riding the ups and downs of fresh produce,” Subway wrote.
“We’re currently facing a shortage of lettuce from our local lettuce farmers.
“So, in the short-term, we’ll be mixing lettuce with cabbage ... while more lettuce is on the way.”
Australians have also been hit with soaring price tags on some produce, with images of an iceberg lettuce costing $10 or more doing the rounds online.
It's not only lettuce that is being pushed up.
The east coast floods helped drive up the cost of living for Australians, with Australian Bureau of Statistics figures showing consumer prices surging by 5.1 per cent across the board in the first three months of 2022.
It was the highest rate of inflation in the country for 20 years, with expectations that it could rise even higher.
Food prices went up 4.3 per cent in the first three months of the year.
Supply chain shortage, extreme weather events and petrol prices have contributed to the consumer inflation gripping the Australian economy.
On Tuesday, for the second month in a row, taking it to 0.85 per cent, which will mean higher repayments for most borrowers.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers has described the cash rate hike as "very difficult news" as Australian homeowners face the largest interest rate increase since 2000.
