TOKYO— Only small fries with that? McDonald’s in Japan has begun limiting the serving size of fries as stocks of spuds run short due to labor disruptions on the US West Coast.

 

McDonald’s began rationing its fries Wednesday morning. It said prolonged labor negotiations with port workers on the West Coast had made it difficult to meet demand despite an emergency airlift of 1,000 tons of spuds and another extra shipment by sea.

 

Japanese consume more than 300,000 tons of French fries a year, mostly at fast-food restaurants, and largely made from imports of frozen, processed potatoes. Domestic production has been declining for years, while imports have risen.

 

McDonald’s has 3,100 outlets in Japan. It also cut prices for set meals to compensate for including only small fries.

 

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