The soaring popularity of a fat-rich fad diet has depleted stocks of butter in Norway, creating a looming Christmas culinary crisis. Norwegians have eaten up the country’s entire stockpile of butter, partly as the result of a low-carb, high-fat diet sweeping the Nordic nation that loves its buttery biscuits.
“Sales all of a sudden soared, 20 percent in October then 30 percent in November,” said Lars Galtung of farmer co-operative Tine. A wet summer reduced the quality of animal feed and cut milk output by 25 million litres. Pundits have suggested Norway should offer some of its abundant oil in exchange for butter.
A Norwegian auction website is selling 250g of butter at a starting price of $13 (R104), about four times its normal price. – Reuters