The likely reason why chicken is in short supply at supermarkets

Melburnians have reported a shortage of chicken in supermarket fridges this week.

While avian influenza outbreaks are causing supply problems overseas, president of the Victorian Farmers Federation, Emma Germano, says that’s not a problem in Australia yet.

Ms Germano told Neil Mitchell chicken meat farmers have told her there’s no shortage on their end. She suspects something else is fuelling the shortage on shelves.

Press PLAY below to hear what Emma Germano thinks is fuelling the chicken shortage at supermarkets

Ms Germano put supermarkets on notice for “price gouging tactics”.

“When we’re talking shortages and price of living, and even things like the interest rate rise yesterday, those little things are triggers for the supermarkets to be able to get away with a bit of price gouging, particularly when people get nervous and start to rush on products like chicken and eggs,” she said.