Kosher latke lovers have avoided further catastrophe after it was revealed that the disappearance of the frozen mini potato products from Tesco stores is only temporary.

The London Beth Din-supervised kosher mini-latkes are thought to be the only mass-produced version of the fried treat still on sale in this country.

There was despair among consumers last week after Tesco intimated that it had stopped supplying the latkes and would not be reintroducing the product. They are highly popular with children and are often the only things some will eat.

But the JC can reveal that the absence of the latkes in recent weeks is due only to a national supply issue that is affecting a number of producers.

After a call from the JC, Tesco said it hoped the latkes would return to supermarket freezers in April. A spokeswoman said the company was sorry for any inconvenience caused. She could not specify the nature of the supply problem.

It had been feared that the loss of the products would add to the blow suffered last October when Rakusen’s ended production of its Mister Rak’s range, regarded as Britain’s favourite frozen latkes.

At that time many shoppers had consoled themselves with the knowledge that the Tesco range would fill the gap in the market.

Jonathan Josephs, a father-of-one from Hendon, north west London, contacted Tesco last week after failing to find the product. He told the company the latkes were “hugely popular” and would be missed if they were to be permanently removed from sale.