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Believe it or not, we are facing yet another food shortage due to the coronavirus. That's right, our beloved ketchup packets are at risk in 2021! It's a real problem in the United States. In fact, some fast food places have even started charging for the once plentiful condiment.
Ketchup Shortage All Over The Country
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From sea to shining sea, all over the United States, many restaurants, like the Blake Street Tavern in Denver, are feeling the pain of the ketchup shortage of 2021. Blake Street's owner, Chris Fuselier, could never have predicted that he'd not have enough ketchup. However, since his ketchup supplier had to slow down operations, he's needed to get creative. He's even gone to other food chains! "It's gotten so bad that when I go to McDonald's or Wendy's," Fuselier told The Takeout, "I'll hoard those extra packets to bring back to Blake Street." And he's not the only one hoarding his packet count.
So, what's causing the nationwide ketchup shortage? Well, as you might have guessed, it all has to do with the coronavirus pandemic. It seems that the finished ketchup packets went out the door faster than the product came in. Plus, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention encouraged restaurants to pack mayo and ketchup, instead of putting them on the dish. So, while fewer packets were being made, more than ever were leaving restaurants! Then, some venues ordered ketchup packets but closed before using them. Unfortunately, it has been a record year for restaurant closings. All these factors combined into the perfect storm, leading to the ketchup packet shortage. And what some food joints are doing will surprise you...
On To Produce More Ketchup Packets
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Incredibly, the ketchup packet shortage has affected everyone, even the major fast-food chains. Believe it or not, things have become so dire that there's now a ketchup black market. That's right! Recently, The Wall Street Journal did a story, exposing people selling ketchup packets on the internet. Prices ranged from 5 cents to 5 dollars. Would you pay five dollars for a single ketchup packet? We certainly would not!
However, if you feel worried about your beloved ketchup, take a deep breath. Thankfully, Heinz has a plan. "We made strategic manufacturing investments at the start of the pandemic to keep up with the surge in demand for ketchup packets driven by the accelerated delivery and take-out trends; at the same time, we also fast-tracked future-focused culinary and packaging innovations, as well as further manufacturing expansion plans," said Steve Cornell, president of Kraft Heinz's enhancers. Sadly, for now, these remain just promises. Only time will tell how long it will take for Heinz to find its way out of the woods...
There is some good news, though: there's still plenty of regular ketchup! That's right, only the packets are hard to find right now. So, if you simply cannot eat your burgers and fries without ketchup, it's time to head to the store for a big bottle!
Sources: CNN, The Takeout
