'Gone From Grocery Shelves, Now There’s a Mad Dash to Find Them' diff viewer (9/10)

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Gone From Grocery Shelves, Now There’s a Mad Dash to Find Them	Gone From Grocery Shelves, Now There’s a Mad Dash to Find Them
2020-06-17 15:27:04 UTC	2020-06-24 11:08:31 UTC (7 days later)
The fallout from the coronavirus hit Allison Arevalo when she could no longer find pasta at the supermarket.	The fallout from the coronavirus hit Allison Arevalo when she could no longer find pasta at the supermarket.
She tried ordering online from Whole Foods. Out of stock. She ran over to Key Food. Too late: The pasta aisle was cleaned out except for two bags of whole wheat no one wanted.	She tried ordering online from Whole Foods. Out of stock. She ran over to Key Food. Too late: The pasta aisle was cleaned out except for two bags of whole wheat no one wanted.
So Ms. Arevalo, 41, a chef and cookbook author, dusted off her fancy pasta maker and ordered a 50 pound bag of semolina flour from a restaurant supplier. Soon, her neighbors in Park Slope, Brooklyn, were turning to her for their pasta fix.	So Ms. Arevalo, 41, a chef and cookbook author, dusted off her fancy pasta maker and ordered a 50 pound bag of semolina flour from a restaurant supplier. Soon, her neighbors in Park Slope, Brooklyn, were turning to her for their pasta fix.
“I wanted to give people another way to get pasta,” said Ms. Arevalo, who now sells 120 pounds of pasta a week.	“I wanted to give people another way to get pasta,” said Ms. Arevalo, who now sells 120 pounds of pasta a week.
As the pandemic has gripped New York, it has caused shortages of the grocery staples that have become essential for coping with home confinement. Pasta and bread have become scarce — available today but not tomorrow, in this store but not that one. Paper towel and snack aisles have been wiped out. Frozen vegetables, chicken nuggets and even oat milk are rationed.	As the pandemic has gripped New York, it has caused shortages of the grocery staples that have become essential for coping with home confinement. Pasta and bread have become scarce — available today but not tomorrow, in this store but not that one. Paper towel and snack aisles have been wiped out. Frozen vegetables, chicken nuggets and even oat milk are rationed.
The empty shelves have sent frustrated shoppers to online scavenger hunts and to store after store to wait outside in long lines. Baking supplies — yeast, flour, baking powder — have become particularly prized finds as people stuck at home have time to perfect their challah bread or knead out their anxieties.	The empty shelves have sent frustrated shoppers to online scavenger hunts and to store after store to wait outside in long lines. Baking supplies — yeast, flour, baking powder — have become particularly prized finds as people stuck at home have time to perfect their challah bread or knead out their anxieties.
“Everybody’s becoming a mini-Martha Stewart,” said Joseph Viscomi, a supervisor for Morton Williams, which now limits customers to one yeast package each and has waiting lists at many of its 15 New York City supermarkets.	“Everybody’s becoming a mini-Martha Stewart,” said Joseph Viscomi, a supervisor for Morton Williams, which now limits customers to one yeast package each and has waiting lists at many of its 15 New York City supermarkets.
Five-pound bags of King Arthur Flour have been so hard to score that they were selling this week on eBay for $26.49, five times the store price.	Five-pound bags of King Arthur Flour have been so hard to score that they were selling this week on eBay for $26.49, five times the store price.
“There’s a black market for flour right now,” said Cristen Kennedy, 38, a college health educator who has scoured a dozen grocery and baking sites since flour disappeared from her grocery store in the Bronx.	“There’s a black market for flour right now,” said Cristen Kennedy, 38, a college health educator who has scoured a dozen grocery and baking sites since flour disappeared from her grocery store in the Bronx.
The shortages began with panic buying and hoarding as the pandemic spread, and then continued as those staying at home consumed more meals, snacks, paper products and cleaning supplies.	The shortages began with panic buying and hoarding as the pandemic spread, and then continued as those staying at home consumed more meals, snacks, paper products and cleaning supplies.
“I never knew we ate so much,” said Nelson Eusebio, the government relations director of the National Supermarket Association, who said he was spending between $50 and $75 more per week on his groceries than he used to.	“I never knew we ate so much,” said Nelson Eusebio, the government relations director of the National Supermarket Association, who said he was spending between $50 and $75 more per week on his groceries than he used to.
Oat milk has become a hot commodity, in part as coffee shop regulars have become home baristas. It topped a list of fastest-moving grocery items nationwide, with sales up 353 percent over last year, according to Nielsen data of consumer packaged goods for an eight-week period ending April 18.	Oat milk has become a hot commodity, in part as coffee shop regulars have become home baristas. It topped a list of fastest-moving grocery items nationwide, with sales up 353 percent over last year, according to Nielsen data of consumer packaged goods for an eight-week period ending April 18.
The slow movers? Sunscreen and vegetable party platters.	The slow movers? Sunscreen and vegetable party platters.
The tidal wave of grocery shopping has wiped out inventories at grocery stores and, in turn, the food distributors that send them goods.	The tidal wave of grocery shopping has wiped out inventories at grocery stores and, in turn, the food distributors that send them goods.
Since most stores rely on specific distributors, what they have — or don’t have — on the shelves depends on what their distributors have in stock, and that can vary from store to store.	Since most stores rely on specific distributors, what they have — or don’t have — on the shelves depends on what their distributors have in stock, and that can vary from store to store.
The inventory shortages have spread to the part of the food supply chain that serves retail stores, while another part that serves now-closed restaurants, hotels and schools has been so overwhelmed by a surplus that farmers have destroyed fresh food that cannot be sold, according to food industry analysts.	The inventory shortages have spread to the part of the food supply chain that serves retail stores, while another part that serves now-closed restaurants, hotels and schools has been so overwhelmed by a surplus that farmers have destroyed fresh food that cannot be sold, according to food industry analysts.
Some manufacturers have run up against limited production or packaging capacity, or cannot find enough trucks to move additional loads. Many meat processing plants have closed as their workers have been sickened by the coronavirus.	Some manufacturers have run up against limited production or packaging capacity, or cannot find enough trucks to move additional loads. Many meat processing plants have closed as their workers have been sickened by the coronavirus.
“The problem is that the supply chain — which is everything from the farm to the supermarket shelf — is fragile at certain points, and that’s why we’re seeing the shortages,” said Phil Lempert, a food industry analyst and founder of supermarketguru.com.	“The problem is that the supply chain — which is everything from the farm to the supermarket shelf — is fragile at certain points, and that’s why we’re seeing the shortages,” said Phil Lempert, a food industry analyst and founder of supermarketguru.com.
So now Frank Zapata cannot get enough Nissin instant ramen noodles for the two CTown supermarkets he owns in Brooklyn and the Bronx. “When everything is normal, my supplier has a lot, whatever you want to get,” he said. “Now it’s hard to get, it’s not available.”	So now Frank Zapata cannot get enough Nissin instant ramen noodles for the two CTown supermarkets he owns in Brooklyn and the Bronx. “When everything is normal, my supplier has a lot, whatever you want to get,” he said. “Now it’s hard to get, it’s not available.”
Morton Williams is missing about 10 to 15 percent of its regular stock, which is better than a month ago, when it was down nearly 30 percent, Mr. Viscomi said. When he orders 10 cases of two-pound Gold Medal flour bags from a distributor, he said, “we’re lucky if we get two cases, and that sells out in a day or two.”	Morton Williams is missing about 10 to 15 percent of its regular stock, which is better than a month ago, when it was down nearly 30 percent, Mr. Viscomi said. When he orders 10 cases of two-pound Gold Medal flour bags from a distributor, he said, “we’re lucky if we get two cases, and that sells out in a day or two.”
Gristedes and D’Agostino supermarkets have been cleaned out of Charmin toilet paper, Bounty paper towels, and Lysol and Clorox cleaners. “Six months ago, you had one bottle of Lysol for your home, now everybody wants to have one bottle for every room,” said John Catsimatidis, the chief executive of Red Apple Group, which includes the supermarkets.	Gristedes and D’Agostino supermarkets have been cleaned out of Charmin toilet paper, Bounty paper towels, and Lysol and Clorox cleaners. “Six months ago, you had one bottle of Lysol for your home, now everybody wants to have one bottle for every room,” said John Catsimatidis, the chief executive of Red Apple Group, which includes the supermarkets.
His supermarkets have turned to alternative brands and tried to tap new suppliers. A Canadian company was ready to send a truckload of Clorox wipes and sprays until its driver refused to deliver to New York.	His supermarkets have turned to alternative brands and tried to tap new suppliers. A Canadian company was ready to send a truckload of Clorox wipes and sprays until its driver refused to deliver to New York.
Still, shopping for oat milk and Oreos may soon get easier as some manufacturers expand their production and distribution operations.	Still, shopping for oat milk and Oreos may soon get easier as some manufacturers expand their production and distribution operations.
In the past month, Mondelēz International has increased snack production in the United States in response to double-digit sales growth of its brands, including Oreos and Ritz crackers.	In the past month, Mondelēz International has increased snack production in the United States in response to double-digit sales growth of its brands, including Oreos and Ritz crackers.
~~Updated June ~~16,~~ 2020~~	Updated June 22, 2020
	A commentary published this month on the website of the British Journal of Sports Medicine points out that covering your face during exercise “comes with issues of potential breathing restriction and discomfort” and requires “balancing benefits versus possible adverse events.” Masks do alter exercise, says Cedric X. Bryant, the president and chief science officer of the American Council on Exercise, a nonprofit organization that funds exercise research and certifies fitness professionals. “In my personal experience,” he says, “heart rates are higher at the same relative intensity when you wear a mask.” Some people also could experience lightheadedness during familiar workouts while masked, says Len Kravitz, a professor of exercise science at the University of New Mexico.
The steroid, dexamethasone, is the first treatment shown to reduce mortality in severely ill patients, according to scientists in Britain. The drug appears to reduce inflammation caused by the immune system, protecting the tissues. In the study, dexamethasone reduced deaths of patients on ventilators by one-third, and deaths of patients on oxygen by one-fifth.	The steroid, dexamethasone, is the first treatment shown to reduce mortality in severely ill patients, according to scientists in Britain. The drug appears to reduce inflammation caused by the immune system, protecting the tissues. In the study, dexamethasone reduced deaths of patients on ventilators by one-third, and deaths of patients on oxygen by one-fifth.
The coronavirus emergency relief package gives many American workers paid leave if they need to take time off because of the virus. It gives qualified workers two weeks of paid sick leave if they are ill, quarantined or seeking diagnosis or preventive care for coronavirus, or if they are caring for sick family members. It gives 12 weeks of paid leave to people caring for children whose schools are closed or whose child care provider is unavailable because of the coronavirus. It is the first time the United States has had widespread federally mandated paid leave, and includes people who don’t typically get such benefits, like part-time and gig economy workers. But the measure excludes at least half of private-sector workers, including those at the country’s largest employers, and gives small employers significant leeway to deny leave.	The coronavirus emergency relief package gives many American workers paid leave if they need to take time off because of the virus. It gives qualified workers two weeks of paid sick leave if they are ill, quarantined or seeking diagnosis or preventive care for coronavirus, or if they are caring for sick family members. It gives 12 weeks of paid leave to people caring for children whose schools are closed or whose child care provider is unavailable because of the coronavirus. It is the first time the United States has had widespread federally mandated paid leave, and includes people who don’t typically get such benefits, like part-time and gig economy workers. But the measure excludes at least half of private-sector workers, including those at the country’s largest employers, and gives small employers significant leeway to deny leave.
So far, the evidence seems to show it does. A widely cited paper published in April suggests that people are most infectious about two days before the onset of coronavirus symptoms and estimated that 44 percent of new infections were a result of transmission from people who were not yet showing symptoms. Recently, a top expert at the World Health Organization stated that transmission of the coronavirus by people who did not have symptoms was “very rare,” but she later walked back that statement.	So far, the evidence seems to show it does. A widely cited paper published in April suggests that people are most infectious about two days before the onset of coronavirus symptoms and estimated that 44 percent of new infections were a result of transmission from people who were not yet showing symptoms. Recently, a top expert at the World Health Organization stated that transmission of the coronavirus by people who did not have symptoms was “very rare,” but she later walked back that statement.
Touching contaminated objects and then infecting ourselves with the germs is not typically how the virus spreads. But it can happen. A number of studies of flu, rhinovirus, coronavirus and other microbes have shown that respiratory illnesses, including the new coronavirus, can spread by touching contaminated surfaces, particularly in places like day care centers, offices and hospitals. But a long chain of events has to happen for the disease to spread that way. The best way to protect yourself from coronavirus — whether it’s surface transmission or close human contact — is still social distancing, washing your hands, not touching your face and wearing masks.	Touching contaminated objects and then infecting ourselves with the germs is not typically how the virus spreads. But it can happen. A number of studies of flu, rhinovirus, coronavirus and other microbes have shown that respiratory illnesses, including the new coronavirus, can spread by touching contaminated surfaces, particularly in places like day care centers, offices and hospitals. But a long chain of events has to happen for the disease to spread that way. The best way to protect yourself from coronavirus — whether it’s surface transmission or close human contact — is still social distancing, washing your hands, not touching your face and wearing masks.
A study by European scientists is the first to document a strong statistical link between genetic variations and Covid-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus. Having Type A blood was linked to a 50 percent increase in the likelihood that a patient would need to get oxygen or to go on a ventilator, according to the new study.	A study by European scientists is the first to document a strong statistical link between genetic variations and Covid-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus. Having Type A blood was linked to a 50 percent increase in the likelihood that a patient would need to get oxygen or to go on a ventilator, according to the new study.
The unemployment rate fell to 13.3 percent in May, the Labor Department said on June 5, an unexpected improvement in the nation’s job market as hiring rebounded faster than economists expected. Economists had forecast the unemployment rate to increase to as much as 20 percent, after it hit 14.7 percent in April, which was the highest since the government began keeping official statistics after World War II. But the unemployment rate dipped instead, with employers adding 2.5 million jobs, after more than 20 million jobs were lost in April.	The unemployment rate fell to 13.3 percent in May, the Labor Department said on June 5, an unexpected improvement in the nation’s job market as hiring rebounded faster than economists expected. Economists had forecast the unemployment rate to increase to as much as 20 percent, after it hit 14.7 percent in April, which was the highest since the government began keeping official statistics after World War II. But the unemployment rate dipped instead, with employers adding 2.5 million jobs, after more than 20 million jobs were lost in April.
Mass protests against police brutality that have brought thousands of people onto the streets in cities across America are raising the specter of new coronavirus outbreaks, prompting political leaders, physicians and public health experts to warn that the crowds could cause a surge in cases. While many political leaders affirmed the right of protesters to express themselves, they urged the demonstrators to wear face masks and maintain social distancing, both to protect themselves and to prevent further community spread of the virus. Some infectious disease experts were reassured by the fact that the protests were held outdoors, saying the open air settings could mitigate the risk of transmission.
States are reopening bit by bit. This means that more public spaces are available for use and more and more businesses are being allowed to open again. The federal government is largely leaving the decision up to states, and some state leaders are leaving the decision up to local authorities. Even if you aren’t being told to stay at home, it’s still a good idea to limit trips outside and your interaction with other people.	States are reopening bit by bit. This means that more public spaces are available for use and more and more businesses are being allowed to open again. The federal government is largely leaving the decision up to states, and some state leaders are leaving the decision up to local authorities. Even if you aren’t being told to stay at home, it’s still a good idea to limit trips outside and your interaction with other people.
Common symptoms include fever, a dry cough, fatigue and difficulty breathing or shortness of breath. Some of these symptoms overlap with those of the flu, making detection difficult, but runny noses and stuffy sinuses are less common. The C.D.C. has also added chills, muscle pain, sore throat, headache and a new loss of the sense of taste or smell as symptoms to look out for. Most people fall ill five to seven days after exposure, but symptoms may appear in as few as two days or as many as 14 days.	Common symptoms include fever, a dry cough, fatigue and difficulty breathing or shortness of breath. Some of these symptoms overlap with those of the flu, making detection difficult, but runny noses and stuffy sinuses are less common. The C.D.C. has also added chills, muscle pain, sore throat, headache and a new loss of the sense of taste or smell as symptoms to look out for. Most people fall ill five to seven days after exposure, but symptoms may appear in as few as two days or as many as 14 days.
If air travel is unavoidable, there are some steps you can take to protect yourself. Most important: Wash your hands often, and stop touching your face. If possible, choose a window seat. A study from Emory University found that during flu season, the safest place to sit on a plane is by a window, as people sitting in window seats had less contact with potentially sick people. Disinfect hard surfaces. When you get to your seat and your hands are clean, use disinfecting wipes to clean the hard surfaces at your seat like the head and arm rest, the seatbelt buckle, the remote, screen, seat back pocket and the tray table. If the seat is hard and nonporous or leather or pleather, you can wipe that down, too. (Using wipes on upholstered seats could lead to a wet seat and spreading of germs rather than killing them.)	If air travel is unavoidable, there are some steps you can take to protect yourself. Most important: Wash your hands often, and stop touching your face. If possible, choose a window seat. A study from Emory University found that during flu season, the safest place to sit on a plane is by a window, as people sitting in window seats had less contact with potentially sick people. Disinfect hard surfaces. When you get to your seat and your hands are clean, use disinfecting wipes to clean the hard surfaces at your seat like the head and arm rest, the seatbelt buckle, the remote, screen, seat back pocket and the tray table. If the seat is hard and nonporous or leather or pleather, you can wipe that down, too. (Using wipes on upholstered seats could lead to a wet seat and spreading of germs rather than killing them.)
Taking one’s temperature to look for signs of fever is not as easy as it sounds, as “normal” temperature numbers can vary, but generally, keep an eye out for a temperature of 100.5 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. If you don’t have a thermometer (they can be pricey these days), there are other ways to figure out if you have a fever, or are at risk of Covid-19 complications.
The C.D.C. has recommended that all Americans wear cloth masks if they go out in public. This is a shift in federal guidance reflecting new concerns that the coronavirus is being spread by infected people who have no symptoms. Until now, the C.D.C., like the W.H.O., has advised that ordinary people don’t need to wear masks unless they are sick and coughing. Part of the reason was to preserve medical-grade masks for health care workers who desperately need them at a time when they are in continuously short supply. Masks don’t replace hand washing and social distancing.