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Rita's Water Ice Is in Custard Crisis and You Can Blame Bird Flu

Eggless soft-serve will fill in, but it's cold comfort.

Rita's/Official

The most recent outbreak of avian flu has forced Rita's to temporarily discontinue frozen custard in all of its stores, the chain announced on its site. As tens of millions of birds have been slaughtered due to the outbreak, the national egg supply has been disrupted and prices on the rise.

In place of the usual custard, egg-free soft-serve ice cream will be served "until [Rita's is] able to acquire eggs." The company concedes that "there is a slight difference in taste and texture." Thanks for nothing, viruses. An official "temporary soft-serve ice cream FAQ" assures customers that Rita's will nix the stand-in product as soon as they're able to return to custard.