Yahoo Finance Hummus crisis hits supermarkets as 'metallic-tasting' dip recalled - leaving empty shelves
Supermarkets including Tesco, Sainsbury's and M&S have been hit by a chickpea crisis, with their shelves being stripped of hummus due to "taste issues".
Some consumers have complained that their pots of dip have a "metallic" taste.
Many pained chickpea fans have taken to social media in order to complain about the inconvenience.
Some have even tried to make their own chickpea dip - to calamitous effect.
One hummus lover tweeted at Tesco: "Your hummus tastes very peculiar. Have you changed the recipe? The tub I bought this week taste metallic!"
Another said to Sainsbury's: "Well. That's my Saturday night RUINED. Houmous shortage in @sainsburys#FirstWorldProblems#gutted".
Well. That's my Saturday night RUINED. Houmous shortage in @sainsburys#FirstWorldProblems#guttedpic.twitter.com/ox7AIrbDEi
— SamSam (@sammywammy30) April 22, 2017
@Tesco your hummus tastes very peculiar. Have you changed the recipe? The tub I bought this week taste metallic!
— Chris Lacey (@CosmicCreepy) April 20, 2017
What's a gal gotta do to get some houmous? ������ @sainsburyspic.twitter.com/ovlrIhANc7
— Nico (@rubberrrsoul) April 23, 2017
Send help @marksandspencer - my colleagues are complaining that your hummus recipe has changed. Only topic of conversation in the office. ��
— Andrea Willoughby (@lilchinacup) April 20, 2017
@sainsburys this signals the end of the world! Two days no houmous... It's my staple! #strugglingpic.twitter.com/xxJqIKG7NW
— Neil Spencer Bruce (@lightb4sound) April 21, 2017
THIS is what happens when you open the blender when making Houmous.... #FAIL - Now I have to REPAINT the kitchen. True story. ������ pic.twitter.com/T0JjQuIxsv
— Hursty & Helen �� (@hurstyandhelen) April 25, 2017
@hurstyandhelen This is what happens when my @sainsburys local stops selling houmous - I try to make it myself and BOOM #houmousexplosion
— Hursty (@FMHursty) April 25, 2017
One enterprising shopper decided enough was enough and made his own dip. However, things quickly went awry.
He wrote: "This is what happens when my @sainsburys local stops selling houmous - I try to make it myself and BOOM #houmousexplosion".
The supplier of the weird-tasting hummus was Bakkavor, which confirmed it has written to all supermarkets which buy its hummus warning them it has had problem with its manufacturing process, causing the strange taste. It refused to say what the issue was but insisted it is not a food safety issue.
Supermarkets have admitted there has been a "taste issue" with their chickpea dips.
A Sainsbury’s spokesperson said, "We've temporarily removed a number of houmous lines from sale due to a production issue at our supplier. We expect to be fully stocked within a couple of days and are sorry for any inconvenience this may cause.”
Sainsbury's said the incident was not a food safety issue and has not been reported to the Food Standards Agency.
An M&S spokesperson said: “Some of our houmous products were temporarily taken off shelf due to a supplier issue. We can reassure customers that our recipe hasn’t changed and that houmous is now back in store.”
Tesco has been contacted for comment.
