Pet food shortages : If you believe that pandemic-era shortages are disappearing, beg your reconsideration.
A continuous shortage of infant formula due to a broad recall of the company has led to difficulties for families in recent months. Production was recently restored at the plant previously shut down. However, the problem continues to linger.
There’s more than just baby formula. Although many of the shortages that resulted from the early days of the pandemic have been cured, and hand sanitisers and toilet paper are abundant, consumers have a difficult time finding specific items due to ongoing supply chain issues and production delays and extreme weather.
Here are eight items that aren’t readily available or are expensive at the moment due to supply issues, from popcorn for movie theatres to Tampons.
Sriracha hot sauce
In a letter addressed to wholesale customers last month, Sriracha maker Huy Fong Foods said that the weather had caused an acute shortage of chilli peppers to create the adored spicy sauce.
“Unfortunately, this is out of our control,” the company stated. “Without this essential ingredient, we cannot produce our products.” It’s unclear when store inventory could be affected because of the shortage.
Popcorn
When moviegoers go to the cinema in the summer months, they might run into a shortage of popcorn, at the very least, increased costs.
The farmers can grow less popcorn generally because other crops can yield a greater profit at a lower cost, according to The Wall Street Journal reported last month. The ongoing shortage of truckers can delay shipping too.
It’s not just the food itself which is difficult to procure. The concessions manufacturers at movie theatres are also experiencing shortages of cups, trays and plastic bags for popcorn, according to The Journal.
Tampons
Retailers are struggling to keep tampons available on shelves, according to a report by TIME which has seen people all over the nation struggling to find essential products for their care.
At a recently-held earnings conference, Andre Schulten, Chief Financial Officer of Tampax producer Procter & Gamble, cited issues with the procurement of raw materials. He also spoke about how the “costly and highly volatile” method of shipping its products which include feminine products. The company plans to raise prices in July to deal with the additional costs.
Pet food
Similar supply chain problems impacting the personal care and grocery areas are slowing pet food delivery this season, and a shortage of aluminium containers is increasing the problem. In a statement citing “inconsistent availability and ongoing sourcing issues,” the Trader Joe’s grocery chain announced in April that it would end the sale of six pet food items.
It’s not easy to determine when things will return to normal. “Food brands are promising they are going to get better in the next four and six months; others are saying it might be up to a year before we see some of their products back in stock,” one Minnesota pet store’s general manager was quoted by local news station KSTP in the last week.
Baby formula
In February, Abbott Nutrition initiated a voluntary recall of specific powdered products in the Similac, Alimentum and EleCare brands in response to complaints about possible contamination by bacteria.
The company claimed it did not have any of its positive products for the bug; however, the disruption resulting from the recall and the subsequent shut-down of a facility in Michigan means families are struggling to find the formula on shelves online.
