News

Must. Hoard. Cheese. Now.

by Adrienne Vogt

First we have to deal with a sriracha shortage, and now this? The worst has been confirmed: Kraft announced that the company is dealing with a Velveeta cheese shortage. (Which seems kind of amazing, since we're assuming that stuff's made in a lab.) The decrease in supplies comes during Velveeta's one time of the year to shine in all its cheesy glory: Super Bowl season. How will Americans make their cheesy dips and nachos for the biggest football game of the year (with "one-third less fat" than regular cheese)? Oh, the horror!

The Associated Press is on top of this story, but unfortunately, there are no easy answers.

Kraft Foods says some customers may not be able to find Velveeta cheese over the next few weeks. A representative for the company, Jody Moore, didn't give any reasons for the apparent shortage, saying only that they happen from time to time given the "nature of manufacturing."

A Brooklyn grocery doesn't expect any shipments until at least February due to a "plant issue." And some Jewel-Osco stores haven't received Velveeta shipments since September, according to the Chicago Tribune.

The people demand an explanation! But Moore, the Kraft spokeswoman, just wants everyone to calm the heck down and stop bothering her about the 86-year-old product, which has probably seen its fair share of bumps along the neon-orange road.

“This is really a short-term issue that’s more noticeable right now given the increased seasonal demand,” Moore says. “We have not heard many complaints from consumers so far.”

That's not the case for some Twitter users, who seem apt to storm the shelves of their nearest supermarkets:

But as far I know, we don't have a cow shortage. So this problem has a simple remedy: Just go out to the store, buy some real cheese, and pop it in the microwave. Lazy Americans.

Mmmm, cheese.

Image: Getty Images