Is there a cream cheese shortage?

WITH issues in supply chain disruption can come shortages of items most people typically don’t think twice about before buying.

One of these items is a popular bagel spread and cheesecake ingredient.

Is there a cream cheese shortage?

According to Kraft, the makers of Philadelphia Cream Cheese, demand for cream cheese saw a rise during the pandemic, and production is not able to keep up.

Basak Oguz, the Philadelphia brand marketing director, the company has put a pause on certain items in order to meet the demand of their more popular products, like cream cheese.

“We’re investing millions of dollars on Philadelphia cream cheese,” he said, according to CNN.

With the increase of home baking and eating throughout the pandemic, the demand for cream cheese rose 18 percent since 2019, according to Kraft.

Restaurants are also reportedly ordering more cream cheese than in previous years.

In October of 2021, Schreiber Foods in Wisconsin was hit with a cyberattack, which put a halt on their food distribution, according to Bloomberg.

The company rivals Kraft in cream cheese production.

Twitter account SAY CHEESE! posted about the lack of cream cheese available, writing: “There is a cream cheese shortage happening in the United States right now. Hot Cheetos & Chicken Tenders have also been reported for having shortages too.”

Bagel shops in New York City have reported issues with the shortage, as well as popular cheesecake brand Junior’s.

Are people being paid not to use cream cheese?

Ahead of the holiday season, the Kraft Heinz brand is offering select customers a $20 gift certificate for dessert if they opt out of buying cream cheese to make a cheesecake.

In a statement given out on Wednesday, December 15, 2021, Kraft announced the first 18,000 people to reserve a spot on a virtual waiting list will be reimbursed for any dessert they buy with proof of receipt between December 17 and 24.

Those who are able to reserve a spot will be gifted $20 between December 28 and January 4, as long as they have received a unique link from Kraft.

The website, SpreadTheFeeling, states: “You may not be able to find Philly to make a cheesecake. So get any other dessert on us.”

To sign up for a reservation, users can access the website on December 17 and 18 starting at 12pm ET. On Thursday, 10,000 spots will be available, with the additional 8,000 opening on Friday.

What have people been saying about the cream cheese shortage?

Many fans of cream cheese have taken to their social media accounts to address the nationwide shortage.

One Twitter user attached a photo of a bagel with what appeared to be just a thin line of the creamy spread, writing: “Who else is suffering from the cream cheese shortage.”

Another user took to their Twitter account to joke, “This cream cheese shortage is a national crisis—our Founding Fathers did not intend for us to have to choose between Strawberry, Blueberry, and Buffalo Style.”

“If the cream cheese shortage gets in the way of my chili cheese dip, i’m milking cows myself,” added another user.

An additional user added: “If you’re hoarding cream cheese during this shortage it’s time to take a good long look in the schmear.”