Matzoh in shortage as Passover approaches

SAN FRANCISCO, April 19 (UPI) -- Heading up to the week-long Jewish holiday Passover, the traditional flatbread matzoh was in short supply in San Francisco-area stores, retailers say.

Select bulk retailers decided not to carry matzoh, prompting smaller stores to see a spike in their sales this year, the Contra Costa (Calif.) Times reported Saturday, the start of the eight-day religious holiday.

"The only Passover foods we carried were macaroons and gefilte fish. There are just so many holidays," Costco regional manager Darby Greek said.

Alison Mochizuki, a spokeswoman for the California-based retailer Trader Joe's, said the chain was "taking this year off to figure out how to supply this product better."

The "bread of affliction" or "bread of poverty" is eaten during the holiday to observe the biblical time when Israelites escaping slavery had no time for their bread to rise. People following traditions of the holiday take all leavened foods out of their homes for Passover week.