UPDATE: Hy-Vee to start limiting meat purchases at all of its stores

UPDATE, May 5

Hy-Vee has announced that it will soon begin limiting meat purchases at all of its stores due to COVID-19.

Tuesday's announcement is a reversal from from a statement made Monday to Dakota News Now, saying the company's meat supply was "stable" as long as customers continued shopping like normal.

Effective Wednesday, May 6, each Hy-Vee customer will be limited to four packages of a combination of fresh beef, ground beef, pork and chicken.

A new statement from Hy-Vee says the company is preparing for possible fluctuations in products as a number of meat processing facilities temporarily close due to COVID-19 outbreaks. The statement said some customers may not find the specific items they are looking for.

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Original story, May 4

As concerns mount over a possible meat shortage due to processing plants shuttering because of COVID-19, a major regional grocery chain says its meat supply is not currently in jeopardy.

Hy-Vee is not limiting meat purchases, Public Relations Director Christina Gayman tells Dakota News Now.

Company officials say right now, the meat supply is "stable" as long as customers maintain their regular buying patterns.

Gayman says Hy-Vee is continuing to work with industry leaders so the company is prepared for any possible fluctuations in product.

Concerns over meat supply shortages have grown in the past few weeks after several meat processing plants, including Smithfield Foods in Sioux Falls, temporarily closed due to COVID-19 outbreaks.

Some grocery chains, including Costco and Kroger,

plans to impose limits on some meat purchases after "panic shopping" led to shortages of certain items.