Energy & Science

Texas Is Facing a Food Supply Nightmare in Wake of Blackouts

  • Restaurant closures have caused food to spoil in recent days
  • Grocery stores are limiting some purchases in the state

Dumpster full of thrown out ice cream at a supermarket in Arlington, Texas on Feb. 17.

Photographer: Tom Fox/The Dallas Morning News/AP Photo
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Restaurants in Texas are throwing out expired food, grocery stores are closing early amid stock shortages and residents are struggling to find basic necessities as a cold blast continues to upend supply chains.

At Tarka Indian Kitchen, a chain with eight locations in Texas, fresh veggies and meat were discarded after being shuttered for days. The same is true for Coolgreens, which sells salads and sandwiches, while Milkshake Concepts had to throw out inventory due to a burst pipe. Similar stories are piling up during a historic cold spell that has knocked out power and snarled roads.