A nationwide shortage of nitrous oxide — a crucial ingredient that helps propel whipped cream out of the can — has left several major manufacturers unable to keep up with holiday demand, reports The Washington Post.
ConAgra, the company behind the best-selling brand Reddi-wip, and Dean Foods, which sells whipped creams under various local brands, both expect to see lower production levels of the sweet topping.
Just two companies are responsible for supplying nitrous oxide to all of the U.S. and Canada and only three packing facilities supply whipped cream to almost all of America. In August, an explosion at a nitrous oxide facility in Florida left one man dead and sparked a federal investigation that greatly reduced the company’s nitrous oxide output, according to the report.
“It’s very concerning how vulnerable we’re making our food system to weather, fuel shortages, accidents, strikes, foodborne illnesses,” said Philip Howard, a sociologist at Michigan State University in Lansing who studies consolidation in the food system. “There are many variables that make it possible that the food on our grocery shelves this week won‘t be there the week after.”
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