Norway butter shortage threatens Christmas treats
Image by: FRANCOIS LENOIR / REUTERS
An acute butter shortage in Norway, one of the world's richest countries, has left people worrying how to bake their Christmas goodies with store shelves emptied and prices through the roof.
The shortfall, expected to last into January, amounts to between 500 and 1,000 tonnes, said Tine, Norway's main dairy company, while online sellers have offered 500-gramme packs for up to 350 euros ($465).
The dire shortage poses a serious challenge for Norwegians who are trying to finish their traditional Christmas baking -- a task which usually requires them to make at least seven different kinds of biscuits.
The shortfall has been blamed on a rainy summer that cut into feed production and therefore dairy output, but also the ballooning popularity of a low-carbohydrate, fat-rich diet that has sent demand for butter soaring.
"Compared to 2010, demand has grown by as much as 30 percent," Tine spokesman Lars Galtung told AFP.
Last Friday, customs officers stopped a Russian at the Norwegian-Swedish border and seized 90 kilos (198 pounds) of butter stashed in his car.
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Norway butter shortage threatens Christmas treats
For Commenters Consideration | Please stick to the subject matterCOMMENTS [9]
KurtKrueger
Posted 521 days agoJasonWeishaupt
JJ The Fed
CvKing
Posted 521 days agoAnneHilliard
Posted 521 days agoTomMenino
Posted 521 days agoGaryMaloy
Another thing, Norway is THE country in Europe that is managing the euro crisis well. This is because of several factors, chief among them being the Norwegian oil reserves and the fact that Norway isn't married to the EU, although there are ties through the EEC.
But the person who asked the question about why people vote for socialism instead of better alternatives, asked a damned good question.
Gary Maloy
The Progress Party of Norway (FrP)
Spacer
Posted 521 days agoAlso, the article doesn't mention one of the largest causes; media hysteria leading to silly people hoarding butter. I've seen a couple of people with several kilos of butter in their shopping carts..
KurtKrueger: The government has, of course, temporarily lowered the customs tariff on importing butter. Extra butter is being imported from Belgium, among other places.
Tibag
Posted 520 days agoA Christmas cookie shortage is not a genuine problem.
daviddaly5