Two Major Shortages Are Threatening Grocery Store Condiment Aisles
Gone are the days of empty toilet paper and cleaning supply shelves, but while it's been over two years since the pandemic started, there have been numerous other shortages affecting grocery stories. Baby formula is one of the latest items to be extremely hard to find because of pandemic-era supply chain problems and a giant recall. However, two new ones are making one aisle in particular extremely bare.
Just in time for summer backyard BBQs and grilling season, both Sriracha and mustard are facing shortages.
Huy Fong Foods, Inc. recently confirmed with Eat This, Not That! that since July 2020 fewer chilis available to make into its signature Chili Garlic, Sambal Oelek, and Sriracha Hot Chili Sauce. In April it sent out a notice alerting fans that recent weather conditions are not helping, and thus any orders for sauces placed after April 19 won't be delivered until sometime after Labor Day.
But this isn't the only condiment with a low supply. This year's mustard see harvest are not as strong, Business Insider (BI) reports. It's the same problem the chili plants are seeing right now thanks to climate change. Only about half of 2021's amount was able to grow this year in France.
"We're in a crisis we haven't seen for 25 years. The price of seeds has gone up three or four times, and maybe five times soon," Christophe Planes, the French sales director at Reine de Dijon told France24, per BI. "And, on top of that, there is no supply."
Shortages at U.S. grocery stores aren't being reported just yet, but prices could go up, as well. In France it is 10% more expensive to add mustard to burgers and hot dogs, and with Fourth of July coming up soon, it may be time for American grocery shoppers to stock up while they can.
Two grocery items that may be hard to find right now, too. This pet food and a few types of medicine have recently been pulled from Kroger and Target shelves.
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