Issues hounding the global supply chain have yet again struck closer to home this week, as Filipinos saw a "tita" afternoon classic snack and a TikTok-worthy dessert temporarily on short stock.
On Wednesday morning, the viral Randy's Donuts, which has been selling over 5,000 pieces of the circular fried dough a day since its soft-opening last May 10, temporarily closed its only branch in Taguig, citing shortage in supply of their key ingredient—flour.
Hours later, Mary Grace Cafe addressed recent concerns regarding their ensaymada that is a classic favorite among its customers. The pastry shop said its absence was due to "some global supply issues on a few raw materials".
Though Mary Grace did not specify, the flour used to make ensaymada, which is also used to make donuts, is derived from wheat, whose global shortage is currently being linked to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, according to international media.
ALSO READ: Ukraine and the Philippines: What You Need to Know
Since the pandemic, the food industry has been facing unprecedented supply-chain challenges. The potato freight crisis has forced McDonald's to cut the portions of its famous french fries.
With Russia and Ukraine as exporters of more than a quarter of the world’s wheat, bread-lovers around the world aren't even the only ones with reason to fear. Wheat is also a key ingredient for pasta and other packaged foods.
As a result of these shortages that are mainly driven by geopolitical issues, prices of agricultural commodities such as wheat, corn, and vegetable oil have been fluctuating alongside fuel and fertilizers.
Analysts said if this continues, global food markets could further destabilize and threaten social stability, especially for hard-hit farmers and regular consumers who can barely keep up with rising costs of goods.
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