Israeli Supermarkets Limit Cottage Cheese Purchases Amid Ongoing Shortage

The shortage of cottage cheese in Israel is worsening, with supermarket chains now restricting the number of cups each customer can buy. This shortage, initially a localized issue, has become widespread across many stores nationwide, leading to empty shelves and purchase limits.

Tnuva, which controls about 75% of the cottage cheese market, attributes the shortage to production line malfunctions caused partly by delays in the arrival of foreign technicians needed for system repairs. This situation raises broader concerns about market concentration, as Tnuva's dominant position means any operational disruption immediately affects the entire supply chain and consumers.

Supermarkets have responded by limiting purchases to allow more customers access, but these measures are only partially effective. Some customers still find shelves empty shortly after stores open. The renewed shortage has reignited debates about increasing competition in the dairy sector. A previously proposed dairy reform by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich aimed to allow more imports and reduce reliance on local producers but was never implemented.

The Finance Ministry warns that the current crisis exemplifies the risks of a non-competitive market, where consumers pay high prices regularly and face shortages during disruptions. They emphasize the need for market-opening initiatives to improve prices, product variety, and availability. However, strong opposition has hindered such reforms so far.

Until production increases or long-term solutions are found, consumers must cope by searching multiple stores or settling for alternative brands, highlighting how even in 2026, a staple product like cottage cheese can become scarce in Israeli households.