Mark Mothersbaugh (DEVO) came out with a Christmas tune:
Posted on 12/18/2016 6:23:46 AM PST by billorites
Just in time for the holidays, an industrywide shortage of canned whipped topping, such as Reddi-wip, appears to be looming after a fatal explosion at a Florida nitrous oxide plant in late August stunted the supply chain.
Conagra Brands, the Chicago-based food manufacturer that makes Reddi-wip, confirmed Monday that its supply of nitrous oxide — a propellant for aerosol toppings — was affected by the blast. Spokeswoman Lanie Friedman said stores still have the product in stock, but supplies may be limited in the peak holiday season, when consumers are indulging in pies, hot chocolate and other desserts that call for whipped cream.
"It's in stores now, but we're encouraging people to buy it early," Friedman said. "There will be a shortage if people buy at the typical levels during the holidays."
Whipped cream purists would suggest simply making your own, but the canned aerosol products, introduced in the 1940s, still do a brisk business in the U.S.
Reddi-wip is the leading aerosol whipped topping, according to sales data from IRI, a Chicago-based market research firm. In the 12-month period ending Nov. 27, sales exceeded $278 million, which represented an increase of almost 9 percent from the same period a year ago, according to the IRI retail sales figures, which do not include Costco.
Friedman stressed the shortage isn't Conagra's problem alone, but extends to all food products that use nitrous oxide. That would include the spray-can versions of Cool Whip, made by Kraft Heinz, which is headquartered in Chicago and Pittsburgh. Kraft Heinz spokesman Michael Mullen declined to comment.
The explosion at the Airgas-owned Nitrous Oxide Corp. facility in Cantonment, Fla., had far more dire consequences than a whipped cream shortage. One Airgas employee was killed in the blast. A company investigation into the cause of the accident...
(Excerpt) Read more at chicagotribune.com ...
Maybe they could substitute helium. Oh, wait, that’s facing shortages too. Hydrogen would certainly add to the suspense.
Did you get my Cheese Whiz, boy?
“Tangentially related, this album cover had a tremendous influence on me around age 12-13.”
Because it helped develop your sense of composition and graphic arts?
That’s exactly how I make mine in the Kitchen Aid Mixer. However, my son bought a 3-pack large cans of Reddi Whip at Costco. No shortage here.
That makes sense, although I wonder why regular air wouldn’t dissolve into the cream?
whip it, whip it good :-)
Right, maybe no free oxygen in N2O so the fat doesn’t go rancid.
“and nitrous oxide.”
People are probably huffing it so they can deal with their relatives.
If you need sugar in your whipped cream tou are used to too much sugar in your diet.
I think for the same reason water doesn’t dissolve in oil. Polar vs non-polar chemistries.
First thing I thought of too. I know it was brass, but I’m sure it inspired a few adolescent boys to practice playing their organ.
The catch is to put the stainless steel mixing bowl in the freezer for a few minutes before using it.
It's heavy but it's good.
FWIW, one of our local grocery chains has none of their house brand available, but some Reddi Whip.
You can make it easy from scratch. There used to be a box mix for whipped cream. Don’t remember the name of it, but my mother would sometimes make it. Cheaper. I’ve always preferred cool whip in tubs.
Got it. Makes sense.
Gizmodo article on the subject:
http://io9.gizmodo.com/why-do-we-use-nitrous-oxide-in-our-canned-whipped-cream-1685599597
It could be a general year-end boom in food product sales.
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