Israel Faces White Cheese Shortage, Prices Skyrocket

A shortage of white cheese and cottage cheese is currently being felt across Israeli supermarkets, with consumers struggling to find 250-gram containers of popular brands. Shelves are emptying by evening, and some stores only have 500-gram options left. Industry insiders estimate supply will return to normal within a week.

The scarcity is attributed to a series of recent holidays, including Yom Kippur and the preceding weekend, which led to lost production days for dairies. Resuming production requires several hours, and both white cheese and cottage cheese need continuous manufacturing processes.

The Dairy Council had previously warned of potential spot shortages due to the holiday-induced production gaps. When a price-controlled product becomes scarce, its substitute's price often surges. For instance, a 225-gram container of Napoleon 9% white cheese was found priced at 16.90 shekels, significantly higher than the maximum regulated price of 5.87 shekels for a 250-gram container of standard white cheese. This represents a price increase of over 220% per 100 grams, making the substitute more than triple the cost.

Prices for these substitute cheeses vary widely across different chains and branches, with some listings reaching 17.90 and 18.90 shekels. Promotional sales have offered some relief, with prices dropping to 9.90 shekels at one chain and up to 12 shekels at others. Symphony 5% cheese is also seeing price fluctuations, ranging from 7.70 to 13.90 shekels for a 200-gram package. Consumers are advised to check the weight and price per 100 grams before purchasing.