10 Top Foods People Stopped Buying Because of Overwhelming Price Hikes
AUTHOR: Ben Rice
No Contingency
The past three years have shown the world what can happen when the system is put on hold, leaving little contingency for many countries when something else goes wrong.
The pandemic slowed the world to a halt, bringing with it not only the largest transfer of wealth to the richest tier of society but a new era of supply chain problems. Added to this is the ongoing Ukraine-Russia war, and we have ourselves a food security problem.
Online communities are full of debates about food prices, and someone asked which particular foods have people subsequently stopped buying.
1. Coke
Coca-Cola has been a mainstay in American fridges for decades, though at its current price, some Americans are switching to iced tea. One commenter summed this problem up, explaining that at $1 a bottle, the corn syrup and carbonated water was worth it; at $2.50 it is hard to justify.
2. Eggs
As we know, the egg crisis is in full flow, and with the recent destruction of a leading egg production plant in Connecticut, the price of eggs remains high in some states. Nevertheless, there was mention of local farm eggs being cheaper, and some particularly smug responses from people who keep chickens at home.
3. Fresh Meat
Some people are now only buying meat when it is marked down, while others stopped buying it altogether. Local farms may prove a good option for anyone with a car, though the added cost of gasoline could be a factor. There is another option for people who can’t live without this food group — invest in a hunting rifle.
4. Honey
A price of “$10 for a 32-ounce jar of Nate’s Organic Honey” stands out here. Honey is a wonderful substance, especially the raw version. However, at prices like this, there is no surprise the little squeezy bear is making fewer appearances on kitchen shelves now.
5. Olive Oil
Everybody’s favorite salad and dipping oil united the conversation, with the majority of aficionados declaring having olive oil a “non-negotiable”. Nonetheless, a few people object to paying $10 for a bottle, with some preferring lard or canola.
6. Potato Chips
How dare they? It seems the humble potato chip is fast becoming another kitchen luxury. The days of recklessly destroying a tube of Pringles may be over for some people — at least until the price drops again, that is. There are other options; frying your own wafer-thin sliced potatoes can be delicious.
7. Cereal
Captain Crunch fans look away: not only has a box of cereal shrunk over the past decade, but the price is rocketing. At $6 a box for what someone said “will maybe be four servings” isn’t worth it any more for many.
8. Steak
For most hard-working people steak was already a luxury. These days, steak nights are few and far between: soaring production, feed, and shipping costs means those tomahawks and ribeyes may need to wait.
9. Processed Foods
This may be the only silver lining here. The more these prices rise, the better it will be for America’s health. In general, processed food means anything not in its raw state that is either cooked, treated, or packaged. Lots of consumers out there are cutting out the Hostess treats for home-made cookies.
10. Salmon
The price last year reached a 40-year high, due to a cluster of problems. Algae blooms, lower oxygen levels in the water, and health issues have contributed to a fall in wild and farmed salmon stocks. Production has also dropped due to lower demand and the consequences of the pandemic.
Inspired by this thread.
This originally appeared on AmmarRangwala.com.
Ammar has started several online businesses and is a blogger who loves providing quality content to help others. He is involved with affiliate marketing, domain names, NFTs, and cryptocurrencies. Check out my blog if you want to learn more about these areas and business in general.
