Hy-Vee limits meat purchases at grocery stores due to coronavirus. Here is the policy

Hy-Vee will limit the amount of meat shoppers can purchase due to worries of shortages caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

The supermarket chain is just the latest store with a new policy for buying meat.

The grocery store announced Tuesday that shoppers will be allowed to purchase four packages of meat of any combination of fresh beef, ground beef, pork and chicken, according to a news release. The policy will go into effect on Wednesday.

“We continue to work with industry leaders so we are prepared for any possible fluctuations in product and can best serve our customers,” the company said in the release. “At Hy-Vee, we have product available at our stores but due to worker shortages at plants as well as an increase in meat sales, customers may not find the specific items they are looking for.”

The Midwestern chain with more than 265 stores in eight states follows Costco and Kroger in limiting meat purchases.

On Monday, Costco announced a limit of three meat purchases per customer, McClatchy News reported. Kroger Co. has limited beef and fresh pork purchases at some locations, Reuters reported.

The uncertainty in the meat supply comes as processing plants closed due to COVID-19 outbreaks and President Donald Trump has ordered top companies, including Tyson Foods and Smithfield Foods, remain open as part of critical infrastructure.

This story was originally published May 5, 2020 at 1:14 PM.