Sunday, January 9, 2022

Is A Food Crisis Looming In The U.S. Due To The Spread Of Omicron?

L.A. Times: Omicron’s spread means more food shortages at grocery stores 

The highly contagious Omicron coronavirus variant is disrupting already stressed food supply chains, sickening so many workers that more shortages at grocery stores are all but certain. 

Supermarkets have been struggling to keep food fully stocked throughout the pandemic as a result of labor shortfalls in every part of the food system, including farms, manufacturers and distributors. Now Omicron is bringing the problem to a new level. The variant is raging across the U.S. and raising health concerns that many thought vaccines had put to rest. Schools and day cares are seeing closures again, keeping more Americans from work. 

All of that will help fuel wage increases and price surges for consumers, as well as 2020-style food shortages. 

“We’re already seeing bare shelves,” said Bindiya Vakil, chief executive of supply-chain consultant Resilinc Corp. “Labor shortages due to Omicron are going to exacerbate the issue.” 

Read more .... 

 Update: FOOD CRISIS LOOMING? Meat and egg shortages fears after stores report ‘bare shelves’ amid Omicron cases (The SUN)  

WNU Editor: There is a Twitter hashtag called #BareShelvesBiden that is trending. 

But the US is not the only country facing shortages. 

I live in Canada, and I have noticed for the past two weeks that fresh products are short/absent and/or being sold at a very high price. I also suspect that these food shortages are being felt worldwide.

1 comment:

Authentum Blockhain said...

We had just started taking a fearless breathe ensuring Covid vaccination. Started enjoying the open outer breeze after a long isolation. Oh, again we are in great danger. Really the world is experiencing the ever worsening situation regardless to say. Just discovered your important update and feel frightening again. Yeah, it seems not only USA, but all over the world has to face the cruel threat by the new variant Omicron. Including food supply all the daily necessities probably will fall in short. For Labor shortfall, if the food production fail to meet the required ratio, truly we have to find us in real danger. Anyway, thanks for sharing such a significant post. Hope soon we will be able to come out of this critical situation.