With the cost of fresh food on the rise and in low supply, some Aussie pubs are considering making the obligatory side salad optional to cut down on costs and food waste. Adelaide publican Simone Douglas says her venue is packed with salad dodgers, and the leafy greens end up filling an entire garbage bin. Whether it will be missed is an open question… Restauranter Frank Hannon-Tan says customers expect a side salad as part of a meal, and dietitians say reducing the accessibility of salads has obvious nutritional downsides. The major supermarkets say shortages are likely to continue for weeks, and Coles has urged shoppers to “try different recipes” until supply issues ease up. Lettuce-based products aren’t the only foods in jeopardy – popular hot sauce Sriracha is disappearing from shelves. And we can’t fathom what an olive oil shortage will do to our cooking repertoire…