On a Wing and A Prayer: East Coast Facing Mysterious Chicken Wing Shortage

Once again the main stream media has let us down. While everyone was covering Inaugural Balls in Washington, a major crisis is emerging in New York and New Jersey: a chronic shortage of chicken wings. Not only are restaurant and bar owners in a panic over the shortage and rising costs, they have begun a boycott to protest the price increases. I noticed that at the confirmation hearing of the Treasury Department nominee, no one had the guts to ask about the strangle hold of the chicken wing and buffalo wing industry on the East Coast.

Sam Musolino iof Sammy’s Pizzeria is reporting that he has been forced to pay $85 for forty pounds of chicken wings — twice the prior rate.

Joe Todaro of La Nova Pizzeria said, “We do between 300 to 500,000 pounds of chicken wings a week, so pennies make a big difference for us.” I am going to assume that he really said 330 to 500 pounds, or there would be few winged birds left in the New York area. Part of the reason why it’s going up so high is a supply and demand issue. Poultry suppliers aren’t making as many wings as they used to.”

For generations, politicians have promised “a chicken in every pot.” Indeed, while wrongly attributed to Herbert Hoover, it was Henry IV who called for each of his peasants would enjoy “a chicken in his pot every Sunday.” Now, bars across New York are left without a critical American food group — with the approach of the Super Bowl.

My question is whether there is a chicken wing OPEC organization that is manipulating the market. Why is Congress so afraid of this industry? Feel of being clipped?

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