Tuesday, December 13, 2011

In Butter-Crazed Norway: Empty Shelves, Shortages

As a result of the perfect storm of: a) a craze for a popular "fat-rich, low-carb" weight-loss diet, b)  a shortage of animal feed that caused a drop in milk production, c) a butter monopoly that controls 90 per cent of the butter supply and d) is protected from foreign competition by trade barriers that prohibit imports from European countries, there is now a butter shortage in Norway as the festive baking season approaches.  

According to this news report "Supermarket shelves in Norway have been stripped bare of butter after its people ate their way through the nation's entire stockpile."

Thanks to several CD readers who reported on this story. 

14 Comments:

At 12/13/2011 11:13 PM, Blogger Hans said...

Let them eat cake.

 
At 12/13/2011 11:13 PM, Blogger Hans said...

Let them eat cake.

 
At 12/14/2011 12:51 AM, Blogger gadfly said...

Just like the US govermnment games which block the use of cane sugar in order to permit ADM to make ungodly profits on corned-based sugar and alcohol. Our consumers have no knowledge of this piece of statism.

 
At 12/14/2011 1:14 AM, Blogger OBloodyHell said...

>>> there is now a butter shortage in Norway

Oh, yeah, rub it in!!

 
At 12/14/2011 1:14 AM, Blogger Che is dead said...

Maybe they could substitute margarine? Or, maybe not:

"The Federal Penitentiary at Leavenworth, Kansas, has housed some famous and infamous inmates, such as “Birdman of Alcatraz” Robert Stroud and Machine Gun Kelly. In the early 20th century, the prison took in some less likely felons—violators of the Oleomargarine Act of 1886. How did trafficking in this popular butter substitute become a Federal offense? Well, ..." The National Archives, "Crimes against butter"

 
At 12/14/2011 6:56 AM, Blogger Hydra said...

Butter in Jamaica is imported from new Zealand. How crazy is that?

 
At 12/14/2011 9:08 AM, Blogger Colin said...

Meanwhile, neighboring Denmark is swimming in the stuff.

The news coverage of this issue has been typically terrible, tending to highlight factors such as poor weather to explain the butter shortage. No, that has nothing to do with it. The shortage is entirely the creation of government.

 
At 12/14/2011 9:24 AM, Blogger Michael Hoff said...

Well, that would never happen here because our socialists are SOOOOOOOOoooo much smarter than theirs.

 
At 12/14/2011 9:25 AM, Blogger morganovich said...

this sort of shortage can ONLY be caused by government.

for prices to be 100X what they are 100 miles away is just inconceivable if trade is allowed.

unfortunately for norwegians, all butter in norway must come with a signed affidavit from the individual cow attesting that she was treated well in accordance with the viking/bovine agreement of 1326 as well as a certificate attesting that the butter was churned by someone with horns on their hat.

personally, i am looking into rental rates for submarines in denmark. 10,000% profits make cocaine look like soybeans. time to become a butter pusher.

 
At 12/14/2011 10:23 AM, Blogger Buddy R Pacifico said...

Who controls the dairy market in Norway?

The Norwegian government and Tine, a dairy co-operative owned by 15,000 farmers, and maker of Jarlsberg Cheese.

So, how are butter prices in the U.S. doing? Up a few cents from a year ago($1.64 v $1.61).

 
At 12/14/2011 12:14 PM, Blogger Don said...

"http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mat-selger-1-5kg-Sm-r-fra-Tyskland-Sell-German-Butter-Norway-NO-SE-FI-DK-/300636837048?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item45ff5a14b8#ht_651wt_932"

$67/1.5Kg from Germany to Norway (plus shipping and "duty").

This is hilarious!

 
At 12/14/2011 1:03 PM, Blogger VangelV said...

Not to worry. If the government persists in being stupid the smugglers in the black market will do their job and find foreign butter that will help to meet demand.

 
At 12/15/2011 3:37 PM, Blogger Methinks said...

Right, Vange. But at an artificially high cost - which means Norwegians are still worse off.

 
At 12/15/2011 4:03 PM, Blogger VangelV said...

Right, Vange. But at an artificially high cost - which means Norwegians are still worse off.

Of course they are. The only way to get the best outcome is to have a free market in butter. But until then the smugglers can help lower costs.

 

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