Alright, imagine this: You’re heading to the grocery store like you do every week, grabbing the usual stuff—bread, pasta, eggs. But then, you go to grab your go-to olive oil, and—wait—it’s gone. Or you can’t find your favorite brand of flour. What’s going on? Turns out, a bunch of your kitchen essentials could be harder to find next year. From climate chaos to supply chain struggles, there’s a lot going on behind the scenes that could leave your pantry a little emptier than you’d like. Let’s break it down.
1. Olive Oil
If you’re an olive oil fan (who isn’t?), get ready for some bad news. Olive oil could become a bit of a luxury in 2025. The reason? Climate change is causing major droughts in olive-growing regions like Spain and Italy. According to CNN, these droughts are seriously messing with crop yields, which means less olive oil on the shelves.
And it’s not just the scarcity—prices are going up too. With fewer olives to go around, producers have to charge more for what they have, making it harder to snag a decent bottle without dropping serious cash. So, if you love drizzling it on everything or using it to fry your favorite foods, you might want to grab an extra bottle while you can.
2. Wheat
If you’re all about your carbs, brace yourself: wheat shortages could be coming. The weather is having a meltdown around the world, and it’s taking wheat crops down with it. Droughts, floods, and heatwaves are messing with wheat yields in places like the U.S., Russia, and Canada, according to Reuters.
That means your go-to pasta, bread, and even baked goods could get harder to find. And if you do find them, expect some price increases. With wheat crops dropping, it could leave you scrambling to find the perfect loaf of bread or the pasta for your weekend dinner plans.
3. Eggs
Eggs have had a rough couple of years, haven’t they? Between the avian flu (RIP, chickens) and supply chain messes, your favorite breakfast food has been harder to find, and definitely more expensive. While things are better now, CNN warns that 2025 could bring more drama. If there’s another flu outbreak or a supply chain hiccup, eggs could be on the endangered list again.
So, if you’re a breakfast burrito enthusiast or someone who’s got eggs in their cart every week, you might want to stock up or get ready for a possible shortage. We don’t want you to be stuck without an egg for your omelet when you’re half asleep.
4. Canned Goods
Canned goods have always been the go-to for emergency food supplies, but that could change soon. From beans to veggies, your trusty cans might not be as easy to find in 2025. Supply chain disruptions are still causing major issues with the availability of canned goods, and it’s not just the cans themselves that are the problem.
Shortages in raw materials, labor issues, and delays in the canning process are all playing a part. So, if you’re planning to stock up on canned chili or your favorite veggies, it might be a good idea to grab them sooner rather than later. It’s not only fresh produce facing these supply challenges—your backup canned food might be in short supply too.
5. Sugar
We all know sugar isn’t the healthiest, but it’s the secret ingredient to so many things we love—like cookies, cake, and coffee. But here’s the kicker: sugar could get harder to find in 2025. The WEF reports that weather disasters (like floods and droughts) in sugar-producing countries like Brazil and India are messing with crop yields.
That means sugar prices could keep rising, and certain types of sugar might become harder to find. It’s bad news for anyone who loves baking or just adding a little sweetness to their morning cup of coffee. So, stock up on sugar while you can—your next batch of cookies might get a little pricier.
6. Rice
If you’re a rice lover, we’ve got bad news. Due to floods in India and droughts in Thailand, rice crops have taken a major hit, and this could lead to shortages in 2025. Rice is a staple in so many kitchens, from stir-fry enthusiasts to sushi lovers, and now we might find ourselves scrambling to get our hands on it.
With the weather being all kinds of unpredictable, rice production is in serious trouble. That could mean fewer varieties available or increased prices on the rice you love. It’s one more kitchen essential that’s harder to find, so if you’re planning a big rice-heavy meal, better stock up now.
7. Coffee
Coffee is life—especially for those of us who can’t function before our first cup. But things are looking rough for coffee beans, especially from Brazil, one of the world’s top producers. Ongoing droughts, pests, and crop diseases are wreaking havoc on the coffee industry.
The result? Fewer beans, which means higher prices and possibly less availability of your favorite morning brew. If you’re like me and can’t get through the day without your coffee fix, you might want to prepare for a world where coffee is a little harder to find or a lot more expensive.
8. Vegetable Oil
Vegetable oil—whether you’re frying up your favorite snacks or just tossing it in for a quick stir-fry—might be harder to find soon. The whole supply chain situation is affecting sunflower oil production, which is a key ingredient in many vegetable oils, and that’s causing some issues. With sunflower oil prices going up and other oils getting harder to find, it might mean you have to either pay more for your usual bottle or switch to something else.
So, if you’ve been relying on veggie oil for your cooking needs, it might be time to check your pantry and make sure you’ve got some backup options stashed away. Trust me, you don’t want to be scrambling for oil when you’re in the middle of making your favorite meal!
9. Spices
Spices are essential to every flavorful dish, but they’re facing some serious challenges. Extreme weather conditions in spice-producing countries like India and Indonesia are making it harder to grow and ship spices. Your go-to spices like turmeric, cinnamon, and pepper could become harder to find as these weather changes impact crops.
With prices rising, your spice rack could see some gaps in 2025. If you love cooking up those curry nights or baking with cinnamon, you might want to grab extra jars while you can. The spice aisle could be looking a little emptier soon, so plan accordingly.
10. Cheese
If you love cheese, you might be in for a rough year. The dairy industry is facing labor shortages, and rising feed costs for cows are making cheese prices soar. These issues could lead to even less cheese on the shelves next year.
Whether you’re into sharp cheddar or gouda, it’s going to be harder to find your favorite varieties. Plus, they’re likely to be much more expensive. If you’re planning a cheese board or just craving that perfect grilled cheese, you may want to buy your stash ahead of time.
11. Butter
Butter has already been a little pricey lately, and it might get even worse. With the same dairy industry issues causing cheese prices to rise, butter is also feeling the pressure. Rising milk prices and labor shortages in dairy farms are making butter harder to find and more expensive.
Whether you’re baking cookies or just spreading it on toast, butter could become another luxury item you’ll have to watch your budget for. If you’ve got a recipe that calls for it, you might need to hunt around or prepare for the price tag to be a bit steeper.
12. Frozen Vegetables
Frozen veggies have always been your secret weapon for quick, healthy meals, but that might be changing in 2025. Thanks to crop failures and ongoing supply chain headaches, frozen vegetable production is on the decline.
If you’re someone who loves stocking up on frozen peas, corn, or spinach, you might find it a little harder to grab them in the future. With fewer crops available to freeze, you could end up staring at empty shelves or paying higher prices when you go to stock up. If you’re planning on whipping up stir-fries or other easy dinners, now’s the time to load up your freezer before those frozen veggies are nowhere to be found.
