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Whataburger pulls toast, buns over qualityWhataburger pulls toast, buns over quality

Recall comes a day after In-N-Out closes Texas units over bread issues

Ron Ruggless, Senior Editor

June 14, 2018

1 Min Read
Whataburger
Whataburger

Whataburger Restaurants LP on Wednesday removed white buns and Texas Toast from some restaurants in three states because of quality issues, the company said. 

The San Antonio, Texas-based burger brand’s recall of white buns and toast came the same day Irvine, Calif.-based In-N-Out Burger reopened more than 30 Texas restaurants after closing them late Monday over poor-quality burger buns.

“We voluntarily removed white buns and Texas Toast from some of our restaurants in the DFW area, East and West Texas, Oklahoma and Northwest Arkansas because of a quality issue with one of our suppliers,” Whataburger’s corporate communications department said in a statement.

“There’s no health risk at all,” the statement said, “rather an impact on our bun’s flavor caused by an unbalance in the yeast, and we want to make sure our customers get the best product.”

Whataburger did not close any restaurant but offered alternatives for the unavailable products.

Customers could get any burger or sandwich on a wheat bun, flour tortilla or bun-less at no extra charge, the company said. In addition, restaurants impacted by the shortage offered extended breakfast hours Wednesday, until 1 p.m.

The company said its bread products are baked daily.

“Our teams are working around the clock to deliver fresh buns today,” the company said. “We’re working hard to get everything back to normal as quickly as possible. We plan to have new 5-inch buns delivered to affected restaurants today. The 4-inch buns for the Whataburger Jr. and Texas Toast will follow very soon.”

Related:In-N-Out closes more than 30 Texas restaurants due to bun problem

For fiscal 2017, Whataburger reported 821 units, with 697 of them company-owned and 124 franchised.

Contact Ron Ruggless at [email protected] 

Follow him on Twitter: @RonRuggless 

About the Author

Ron Ruggless

Senior Editor, Nation’s Restaurant News / Restaurant Hospitality

Ron Ruggless serves as a senior editor for Informa Connect’s Nation’s Restaurant News (NRN.com) and Restaurant Hospitality (Restaurant-Hospitality.com) online and print platforms. He joined NRN in 1992 after working 10 years in various roles at the Dallas Times Herald newspaper, including restaurant critic, assistant business editor, food editor and lifestyle editor. He also edited several printings of the Zagat Dining Guide for Dallas-Fort Worth, and his articles and photographs have appeared in Food & Wine, Food Network and Self magazines. 

Ron Ruggless’ areas of expertise include foodservice mergers, acquisitions, operations, supply chain, research and development and marketing. 

Ron Ruggless is a frequent moderator and panelist at industry events ranging from the Multi-Unit Foodservice Operators (MUFSO) conference to RestaurantSpaces, the Council of Hospitality and Restaurant Trainers, the National Restaurant Association’s Marketing Executives Group, local restaurant associations and the Horeca Professional Expo in Madrid, Spain.

Ron Ruggless’ experience:

Regional and Senior Editor, Informa Connect’s Nation’s Restaurant News and Restaurant Hospitality (1992 to present)

Features Editor – Dallas Times Herald (1989-1991)

Restaurant Critic and Food Editor – Dallas Times Herald (1987-1988)

Editing Roles – Dallas Times Herald (1982-1987)

Editing Roles – Charlotte (N.C.) Observer (1980-1982)

Editing Roles – Omaha (Neb.) World-Herald (1978-1980)

Email: [email protected]

Social media:

Twitter@RonRuggless

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/ronruggless

Instagram: @RonRuggless

TikTok: @RonRuggless

 

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