Introduction
The coronavirus pandemic has caused a shortage of many grocery items, leaving shoppers scrambling to find what they need. From toilet paper to canned goods, the shelves are empty in many stores. Here are four grocery items that are facing shortages right now: canned tuna, eggs, flour, and rice. With the demand for these items increasing, it’s important to know what to buy and what to avoid. Eat This Not That has the scoop on the best alternatives to these items so you can still get the nutrition you need.
Grocery Items Facing Shortages Right Now
The coronavirus pandemic has caused shortages of many grocery items, leaving shoppers scrambling to find what they need. Here are four items that are currently facing shortages:
1. Toilet Paper
Toilet paper has been one of the most sought-after items since the pandemic began. Many stores have limited the amount of toilet paper customers can purchase, and some stores have even run out of it completely. If you’re having trouble finding toilet paper, try looking for alternatives like paper towels, tissues, and cloth rags.
2. Hand Sanitizer
Hand sanitizer has also been in high demand since the pandemic began. Many stores have limited the amount of hand sanitizer customers can purchase, and some stores have even run out of it completely. If you’re having trouble finding hand sanitizer, try making your own with rubbing alcohol and aloe vera gel.
3. Disinfecting Wipes
Disinfecting wipes have been another hot commodity since the pandemic began. Many stores have limited the amount of disinfecting wipes customers can purchase, and some stores have even run out of them completely. If you’re having trouble finding disinfecting wipes, try making your own with rubbing alcohol and paper towels.
4. Flour
Flour has also been in short supply since the pandemic began. Many stores have limited the amount of flour customers can purchase, and some stores have even run out of it completely. If you’re having trouble finding flour, try looking for alternatives like cornmeal, almond flour, and oat flour.
Stocking up ahead of long summer weekends hasn’t been this expensive in decades—but that’s if the items on your grocery list are even in stock. Several shortages are happening on shelves may make it hard to find what you need.
Timing for these shortages isn’t ideal with the Fourth of July and the peak of summer right around the corner, as a few of them are important for backyard BBQ staples like hot dogs, hamburgers, and fruit salad. Keep reading to find out exactly what is facing a low supply right now.
New Zealand is known for its kiwi harvests, which is the largest fruit or vegetable export the country creates. Around $120 million worth of the fruit makes its way to the U.S. each year, but the harvest so far in 2022 has not reached its usual potential, Bloomberg reports.
In 2021 over 5 billion kiwifruits were picked, but weather and a lack of labor have officials expecting fewer, so don’t be alarmed if the produce section has a scarce selection.
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Chicken and other meat hot off the grill may be less spicy this summer thanks to a shortage of Sriracha Hot Chili Sauce. Huy Fong Foods, Inc., the company that makes the sauce, recently confirmed with Eat This, Not That! that its signature product along with the Chili Garlic and Sambal Oelek sauces are not being sent out until after Labor Day.
Like kiwi harvests, chili plants have been affected by unusual weather conditions not only this year but since 2020. With supply at such a low point, the company won’t be able to fill orders until September.
“We understand that this may cause issues,” the company says. “However, during this time we will not accept any new orders to be placed before September as we will not have enough inventory to fulfill your order.”
Luckily this is the only condiment that may be scarce, as mustard companies are reassuring shoppers that they will be able to find it even though mustard seed has also seen a weaker harvest.
The cost of coffee has skyrocketed in recent months, going up by 70%, according to The Guardian. Sweltering heat is causing farmers to move their crops, but the amount of land is dwindling in places like Costa Rica and Jamaica. This could mean some empty spaces in the coffee aisle of your local supermarket.
“Materials like cobalt, copper, and nickel are all constrained right now, and all are used in colored glass manufacturing,” Bindiya Vakil, the CEO of global supply chain company Resilinc, recently told Eat This, Not That! about wine bottles. “Less supply and continued high demand means higher pricing.”
It also means some of your favorite pours may be hard to find. In addition, the grape harvest last year in France was small, leading to a $2 billion loss in sales, The Guardian reports. Experts predict that climate change and rising temperatures will continue to affect crops for years to come, so unfortunately this is a shortage that may not go away anytime soon.
Amanda McDonald