Food production struggles without key ingredients for “junk food”
Hostess Brands CFO Travis Leonard is sounding the alarms - Twinkie production is hitting a wall.
Production scheduling challenges and transportation inefficiencies can all cast blame for the serious ingredient shortages compounded by the Russian invasion of Ukraine that has lasted since late February. Large food brands such as General Mills, Conagra Brands, and Mondelēz International are struggling with production issues due to the lack of global sunflower oil exports. The Ukraine region was responsible for 31 % of the ingredient in 2020-2021. Simply, Russia and Ukraine were responsible for 28% of the global wheat production - and they seem a bit busy at the moment with other concerns.
Due to the shortage, companies are now turning to substitute ingredients - such as Brazilian soybean and Canadian rapeseed oil. However, environmental factors have left even those substitutes in short supply, as well.
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After months of secrecy surrounding President Biden's decision to provide ATACMS missiles to Ukraine, it has been revealed that the missiles are now in Ukrainian possession and have been used in attacks on Russian military facilities.