Food Rationing Hits U.S.!
That’s the alarmist message in today’s normally austere, conservative New York Sun. What’s the deal?
Major retailers in New York, in areas of New England, and on the West Coast are limiting purchases of flour, rice, and cooking oil as demand outstrips supply. There are also anecdotal reports that some consumers are hoarding grain stocks.
At a Costco Warehouse in Mountain View, Calif., yesterday, shoppers grew frustrated and occasionally uttered expletives as they searched in vain for the large sacks of rice they usually buy.
“Where’s the rice?” an engineer from Palo Alto, Calif., Yajun Liu, said. “You should be able to buy something like rice. This is ridiculous.”
The bustling store in the heart of Silicon Valley usually sells four or five varieties of rice to a clientele largely of Asian immigrants, but only about half a pallet of Indian-grown Basmati rice was left in stock. A 20-pound bag was selling for $15.99.
Well, that’s a chuckle. It’s hardly rationing just because you can’t buy a 20-lb. bag of food. It’s not like you can’t go into any grocer in America and buy a smaller bag of Uncle Ben’s. It’s just that bulk, discount food is probably going to be harder to find for the time being.
As for the hoarding stories, let me add my own anecdotal evidence. About three years ago, I bought one of those 20-lb. bags of Royal basmati rice (pictured) at Costco. I never got around to opening it, and I still have it. Thus, I’m apparently a hoarder! Except that I could still buy it right now at Costco for next to nothing, which makes my rice–like the Sun piece–a little silly, and a little stale.
Thanks to Jessica for the tip.
Update: Sam’s Club is now limiting customer purchases to four 20-lb. bags of rice. “On average,” the company notes in a press release explaining the move, “a typical Sam’s Club Business Member does not buy more than 80 pounds of rice in one visit.”
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