Norway Has Run Out of Butter

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cancel2 2022

Canceled
(Reuters)

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" diet sweeping the Nordic nation which emphasizes a higher intake of fats. "Sales all of a sudden just soared, 20 percent in October then 30 percent in November," said Lars Galtung, the head of communications at TINE, the country's biggest farmer-owned cooperative.

A wet summer which reduced the quality of animal feed and cut milk output by 25 million litres had already limited supplies and the shortage has led some pundits to suggest the world's eighth-largest oil exporter offer some of its plentiful fuel supply in exchange for butter. "Norwegians are not afraid of natural fats, they love their butter and cream," Galtung told Reuters.

Butter is now selling on Norway's top auction website, with a 250-gram piece starting at around $13 (8.28 pounds), roughly four times its normal price.
Just weeks before Norwegians will be expecting to eat plenty of buttery traditional biscuits and other homemade Christmas treats made with love and the liberal inclusion of dairy products, residents of the world's second-richest per-capita country can't even hope for help from a friendly neighbour who is rolling in butter.
Top dairy producer Denmark lies just across a narrow sea channel, but its stores of creamy butter will be kept out of the country by the high import duties of Norway, the only Nordic nation that does not belong to the European Union.

Still, the problem has certainly provided the Danes with a good laugh over their richly buttered breakfast toast. Morning TV show Go' Morgen Danmark amid much hilarity offered a paltry 1,000 packets of butter on Wednesday to help ease the pain.




http://uk.reuters.com/article/2011/...feedType=RSS&feedName=oddlyEnoughNews&rpc=401
 
My oldest son went to Norway a few months ago and he told me that Oslo is the world's most expensive city. A beer will cost you around 11 dollars.
 
Aoxomoxoa said:
(Reuters)

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" diet sweeping the Nordic nation which emphasizes a higher intake of fats. "Sales all of a sudden just soared, 20 percent in October then 30 percent in November," said Lars Galtung, the head of communications at TINE, the country's biggest farmer-owned cooperative.

A wet summer which reduced the quality of animal feed and cut milk output by 25 million litres had already limited supplies and the shortage has led some pundits to suggest the world's eighth-largest oil exporter offer some of its plentiful fuel supply in exchange for butter. "Norwegians are not afraid of natural fats, they love their butter and cream," Galtung told Reuters.

Butter is now selling on Norway's top auction website, with a 250-gram piece starting at around $13 (8.28 pounds), roughly four times its normal price.
Just weeks before Norwegians will be expecting to eat plenty of buttery traditional biscuits and other homemade Christmas treats made with love and the liberal inclusion of dairy products, residents of the world's second-richest per-capita country can't even hope for help from a friendly neighbour who is rolling in butter.
Top dairy producer Denmark lies just across a narrow sea channel, but its stores of creamy butter will be kept out of the country by the high import duties of Norway, the only Nordic nation that does not belong to the European Union.

Still, the problem has certainly provided the Danes with a good laugh over their richly buttered breakfast toast. Morning TV show Go' Morgen Danmark amid much hilarity offered a paltry 1,000 packets of butter on Wednesday to help ease the pain.




http://uk.reuters.com/article/2011/...feedType=RSS&feedName=oddlyEnoughNews&rpc=401
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I can see it now.
Foreign looking men will be standing in alleyways, wearing trenchcoats, and quietly whispering to passing Norwegians:
"psst, hey buddy. You want to buy some butter?
I've got Country Crock, Blue Bonnet, Parkay, ...all fresh from the US, uncut."
 
Emperor Septimius Severus said:
What type/size of beer? I've paid that much for certain beers.
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Heineken or Carlsberg, nothing special. The taxes on alcohol are deliberately set very high which why there is so much home brewing going on in Scandinavian countries.

Norway is often described as a "dry" country, because alcohol is highly priced and glass of wine/beer in a restaurant is in the range of 60 kr (£6/$9/€9). Beer can be bought at the supermarkets, however wine and stronger alcoholic beverages have to be purchased in state owned liquor stores (Vinmonopolet). The price of alcohol, however does not stop the locals from having a good time. They are often found drinking and carrying on in local street parties and on their porches.

You must be at least 18 years old to purchase beer/wine and 20 years old to purchase spirits (alcohol levels of 22% and above) in Norway.

Technically, you're not allowed to drink in public. This law is very strict, and even encompasses your own balcony, if other people can see you! Luckily, the law is very seldom enforced (I've never heard of anyone being fined in their own balcony, for instance), and Norwegians indeed do drink in parks. There are calls for modifying the antiquated law, and recently, there has been a debate in media: most people seem to agree that drinking in parks is alright as long as people have a good time and remain peaceful. However, if you bother others and get too intoxicated or a policeman happens to be in a bad mood, you may be asked to throw away your alcohol, and in a worst-case scenario, fined. Drinking openly in the street is probably still considered somewhat rude, and it would be more likely to bring the police's attention than a picnic in a park, and is advised against. Having a glass of wine in an establishment that legally serves alcohol at the sidewalk, of course, is not a problem.

In Norway, all alcohol with a volume percentage of under 4,75% can be sold at regular shops. This means you can get decent beer all over the place. The price varies, but imported beer is usually expensive. Shopping hours for beer are very strict: The sale stops at 8 pm (20.00) every weekday, and at 6 pm (18.00) every day before holidays (incl sundays). This means the beer will have to be PAID before this time. If it's not paid, the person behind the counter will take your beer, and tell you "Sorry pal, too late!". On Sunday, you can't buy beer anywhere except bars/pubs/restaurants.

For strong beer, wine and hard alcohol, you will have to find a Vinmonopolet branch. The state shop have a marvellous choice of drinks, but at mostly sky-high prices. The general rule is that table wines are more expensive than in nearly any other country. Expect NOK 80-90 for a decent, "cheap" wine. They are open until 5 pm (17.00) Mon-Wed, 6 pm (18.00) Thu-Fri, and 3 pm (15.00) on Sat. Sunday? No way.
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http://wikitravel.org/en/Norway#Drink
 
I believe imported Budweiser in Norway can clock-in at $11, although I see no reason why any self-respecting Norwegian would buy it...
 
Aoxomoxoa said:
Heineken or Carlsberg, nothing special. The taxes on alcohol are deliberately set very high which why there is so much home brewing going on in Scandinavian countries.



http://wikitravel.org/en/Norway#Drink
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In Finland, they have a "national beverage" called Kilju, which is essentially fermented sugar water, the cheapest imaginable source of alcohol. One day, I want show them up by fermenting high fructose corn syrup.
 
Emperor Nero said:
In Finland, they have a "national beverage" called Kilju, which is essentially fermented sugar water, the cheapest imaginable source of alcohol. One day, I want show them up by fermenting high fructose corn syrup.
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In Norway they have Akvavit which is made from potatoes, I don't like it that much as it is too highly spiced for my state. Although I can see the point of it when mulled to make Gløgg and it's -30C outside.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akvavit
 
Aoxomoxoa said:
In Norway they have Akvavit which is made from potatoes, I don't like it that much as it is too highly spiced for my state. Although I can see the point of it when mulled to make Gløgg and it's -30C outside.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akvavit
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Well, Kilju isn't traditional. It's a cheap and dirty beverage people make themselves as a reaction to huge alcohol taxes, which is why I mentioned it. Calling it the "national beverage" was a bit of a joke.
 
Emperor Nero said:
Well, Kilju isn't traditional. It's a cheap and dirty beverage people make themselves as a reaction to huge alcohol taxes, which is why I mentioned it. Calling it the "national beverage" was a bit of a joke.
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As I said previously, home brewing is a massive industry in Scandinavian countries.
 
Eh, any sporting event that isn't a hockey game here has beers about that price. Which is why I learned how to smuggle beer.
 
Aoxomoxoa said:
My oldest son went to Norway a few months ago and he told me that Oslo is the world's most expensive city. A beer will cost you around 11 dollars.
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But you have "free" health care. Socialism......why allow only a few to be miserable when you can make everyone miserble.
 
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