The United States’ most popular pizza topping is the latest foodstuff casualty of the novel coronavirus pandemic as supplies tighten and pizzerias nationwide grapple with rising costs.

According to Bloomberg, demand has risen sharply as large sections of the public continue avoiding public dining, while production snags at meat processing plants nationwide have kept supplies tight.

In fact, some smaller shops are paying as much as $2 more per pound compared with pre-pandemic costs, Bloomberg reported.

Pepperoni is made from a cured mixture of pork and beef that is seasoned with spices such as paprika and chili pepper to give it a smoky flavor, Today reported.

Barry Friends, a partner at foodservice consultant Pentallect, told Bloomberg the ingredient’s labor-intensive process and low profit margins have forced some producers to abandon the product entirely as they “streamline operations” amid the pandemic.

According to Bloomberg, larger chain pizzerias typically buy ingredients on long-term contracts with pre-negotiated prices that are not subject to market changes, so Domino’s, Papa John’s, Pizza Hut and Little Caesars have avoided pepperoni shortages or price increases to date.

Citing a YouGov survey conducted in 2019, 53% of U.S. respondents selected pepperoni as one of their top three favorite pizza toppings, Today reported.

Cox Media Group