Shortage of Light Cream in Supermarkets (2024)

In searching for light cream, I have found none in local supermarkets nor in BJ's Wholesale Club for nearly a month. Half-and-half, heavy cream, whipping cream, and various other dairy products are available in abundant supply.

Does anyone have an insight as to what has caused this shortage?

Strider

Perhaps there is a seasonal change in demand so more heavy cream is produced for the upcoming colder months.

There are some formulas online for converting heavy cream to light cream by diluting it with milk (not water).

There were supply issues with butter too. It seems better now but of course it takes cream to make butter. And smoke from wildfires can reduce milk production so there is a chance of additional supply problems.

https://www.ams.usda.gov/mnreports/dywweeklyreport.pdf

Less popular items are being made less to make more of the popular ones, and minimize out-of-stock for the more popular ones. The same thing has been happening with sugar-free whipped cream in the can.

You can make your own light cream by mixing 2 parts heavy cream and one part milk or equal parts half and half and heavy cream. Dairies essentially do that at the plant. These products are all defined by the milkfat level.

Also, Nestle Crema is an amazing product- mix with fruit and if you want to condensed milk to make an easy dessert. Use the rest up in your coffee and/or use it to make gravy or cream sauces. Have just discovered it since COVID.

Carson wrote: ↑Wed Sep 01, 2021 1:42 pmNot sure about 'light cream' or 'table cream' but I know there's a high demand of heavy cream due to it being popular among the Keto folks. My friend goes through nearly a gallon of it a week. Yes, heavy cream.

See Also

The real reason grocery stores are running out of whipped cream this Christmas

Back of the napkin math, that's in the neighborhood of 2,000kcals, in heavy cream per day. I'd bet even Dr. Cywes, Lustig, Fung, Hyman, and all of the other keto-advocating physicians would have plenty to say about that.

stoptothink wrote: ↑Wed Sep 01, 2021 3:50 pm

Carson wrote: ↑Wed Sep 01, 2021 1:42 pmNot sure about 'light cream' or 'table cream' but I know there's a high demand of heavy cream due to it being popular among the Keto folks. My friend goes through nearly a gallon of it a week. Yes, heavy cream.

Back of the napkin math, that's in the neighborhood of 2,000kcals, in heavy cream per day. I'd bet even Dr. Cywes, Lustig, Fung, Hyman, and all of the other keto-advocating physicians would have plenty to say about that.

No matter the composition of your diet, if you eat more calories than your body needs, you will gain weight.

I haven't seen this particular shortage in Los Angeles.

I'm kind of hoping this will lead to a clotted cream glut. We could use more of that in the states. More goose fat too.
https://www.dairyuk.org/wp-content/uplo ... -Cream.pdf (see p.3)

Spot milk shortages are being reported due to a number of factors: driver shortages nationwide, labor shortages, wildfires out west affecting dairy production in that part of the country (cows can't graze indoors). There have been shutdowns of entire plants due to Covid outbreaks, the latest was United Natural Foods warehouse for a week in mid-August (not sure if that was for meat or milk).

Of course, it could be worse...in Scotland there is a beer shortage due to delivery issues with CO2 and drivers.

Strider wrote: ↑Wed Sep 01, 2021 11:02 amIn searching for light cream, I have found none in local supermarkets nor in BJ's Wholesale Club for nearly a month. Half-and-half, heavy cream, whipping cream, and various other dairy products are available in abundant supply.

Does anyone have an insight as to what has caused this shortage?

Dairy farms have stopped breeding light cows.

Over the years, the demand for light cream has lessened. So producers have responded accordingly.
An article from 1981 explains it:
"According to several dairy company executives, the reason is simply lack of demand. "
https://www.nytimes.com/1981/07/01/gard ... -find.html

Interesting considering last year....

Why dairy farmers across America are dumping their milk

https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/15/business ... index.html