TOKYO (AP) 鈥� The packaging on some snacks in Japan is turning a somber black-and-white, as disrupts the supply of an ingredient used in colored ink.
Tokyo-based Calbee Inc., which makes potato chips and cereal, said what鈥檚 inside remains the same. Calbee’s popular snacks are available in Japan’s omnipresent convenience stores and shipped to the U.S., China and Australia.
鈥淭his measure is intended to help maintain a stable supply of products,鈥� it said in a statement this week.
The change on 14 products in its lineup will start May 25, limiting ink colors to just two, the company said, noting it was necessary to respond flexibly to changing geopolitical conditions.
How long the change might last remains unclear, according to Calbee, founded in 1949, and employing more than 5,000 group workers.
The move is the latest caused by the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz because of the war in Iran. The war has sent prices of oil and other products higher, as well as caused supply crunches.
Japan relies almost entirely on oil imports. A key oil-related product called naphtha is used in various items like plastics and ink. Japan has so far ridden out the worries relatively calmly, as the government has worked to allay such fears by noting the nation鈥檚 oil reserves.
But there鈥檚 no mistake in the stark change on the chips packaging.
Calbee鈥檚 lightly salted chips, known as 鈥渦su shio,鈥� originally came in a bright-orange bag with an image of yellow chips and a potato-man mascot wearing a hat.
The new packaging just has monochrome lettering.
The company, which also makes shrimp chips, or 鈥渒appa ebisen,鈥� had just announced an ambitious growth strategy in March.
鈥淐albee will continue to respond flexibly and promptly to changes in its operating environment, including geopolitical risks, and remains committed to maintaining a stable supply of safe, high鈥憅uality products,鈥� it said. 鈥淲e ask for your understanding.鈥�
___
Yuri Kageyama is on Threads:
Copyright © 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.
