# They put a limit on how much ramen you can buy at the grocery store **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 21, 2022, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-put-a-limit-on-how-much-ramen-you-can-buy-at-the-grocery-store/975295 "2022-11-21T05:17:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2022, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-put-a-limit-on-how-much-ramen-you-can-buy-at-the-grocery-store/975295/1 "2022-11-21T05:17:29Z")
Thats got to be a bad sign for how the country as a whole is doing. They had a note saying people were only allowed 2 packages of Ramen each (packages as in single packages). People must be getting desperate and barely able to afford food. I’m lucky in the sense that I have income to buy food, but damn things must be getting bad if people are lining up to buy ramen (one of the cheapest form of easy to cook nutrition out there). They were 35 cents a pack. I remember around 2010 when you could sometimes find a 10 pack for $1. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2022, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-put-a-limit-on-how-much-ramen-you-can-buy-at-the-grocery-store/975295/2 "2022-11-21T05:34:59Z")
There may also be a shortage of ramen for other reasons (e.g. supply problems). My favourite brand, Sapporo Ichiban, has been hard to find lately. I love the stuff with grilled pork and sliced mushrooms and garnished with green onion. Both of my normal grocery stores haven’t had it for months, though they have other brands. My only source right now, oddly enough, is Walmart, which has it in 5-packs with no limit on quantity. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2022, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-put-a-limit-on-how-much-ramen-you-can-buy-at-the-grocery-store/975295/3 "2022-11-21T06:04:00Z")
> [@Wesley\_Clark](#): > > They had a note saying people were only allowed 2 packages of Ramen each (packages as in single packages). People must be getting desperate and barely able to afford food. That seems to be jumping to conclusions. More likely, it’s a supply chain issue, like with the baby formula, or the TP a few years ago. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2022, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-put-a-limit-on-how-much-ramen-you-can-buy-at-the-grocery-store/975295/4 "2022-11-21T06:12:53Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > That seems to be jumping to conclusions. Agreed; the grocery stores where I shop are still seeing occurrences of low stock (or out of stock) on certain items. Nearly 3 years into COVID, the supply chain and transportation systems still aren’t all back to where they were in 2019. Where are you seeing this happening, @Wesley_Clark , and is it for just one brand of ramen, or multiples? Are you seeing similar rationing for other inexpensive food items? I was at my local grocery store the other day, and I did, in fact, need to buy some ramen (my wife wanted a few packs). No rationing there, and they had a lot of the brand that she wanted. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2022, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-put-a-limit-on-how-much-ramen-you-can-buy-at-the-grocery-store/975295/5 "2022-11-21T06:15:24Z")
Who is “They”, and why are you attempting to purchase such large quantities of this so-called ‘Ramen’? ---
**Author:** ![Seanette](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/seanette/32/9139_2.png) [@Seanette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seanette)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2022, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-put-a-limit-on-how-much-ramen-you-can-buy-at-the-grocery-store/975295/6 "2022-11-21T06:19:28Z")
Just checked a random representative at [walmart.com](http://walmart.com). They let me put 6 12-packs in my cart with no fuss (I didn’t carry through with the purchase, since I already have ample on hand). ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2022, 6:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-put-a-limit-on-how-much-ramen-you-can-buy-at-the-grocery-store/975295/7 "2022-11-21T06:22:00Z")
The principal ingredient in ramen is wheat, and a considerable percentage of the world’s wheat supply comes from Ukraine, and I’ve heard that they’ve been having a bit of a rough go of it over there lately. The store I work at hasn’t had quantity limits on anything for over a year now, but our ramen section hasn’t been fully stocked since arpund March 10th, 2020, and it’s inconsistent as to how much of whay we order actually shows up on the truck. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2022, 8:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-put-a-limit-on-how-much-ramen-you-can-buy-at-the-grocery-store/975295/8 "2022-11-21T08:35:22Z")
We have a two-turkey limit at present in my store, but we have had that every year since forever, nevermind the customer this week yelling “Limits? Covid is over, why do you have limits?” No ramen shortage here, but all you need is a local rumor causing a run on the local stores and there you go. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2022, 9:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-put-a-limit-on-how-much-ramen-you-can-buy-at-the-grocery-store/975295/9 "2022-11-21T09:53:23Z")
> [@Seanette](#): > > Just checked a random representative at [walmart.com](http://walmart.com/). Wow, just as a side note, the 5-pack of Sapporo Ichiban is USD $5.29 at Walmart in the US, and only if ordered online. The 5-pack is CDN $4.97 here at the store, which is about USD $3.70. Very unusual, since stuff is usually cheaper in the US. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2022, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-put-a-limit-on-how-much-ramen-you-can-buy-at-the-grocery-store/975295/10 "2022-11-21T12:22:24Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > We have a two-turkey limit at present in my store, but we have had that every year since forever, Yes the turkey limit is usually due to the supermarket using it as a loss leader promotion to get you to come in to hopefully buy other items to make up for the loss. They don’t want others, especially competitors, to buy them out at below their cost. They also may want to ensure there are enough birds to go around as a secondary reason. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2022, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-put-a-limit-on-how-much-ramen-you-can-buy-at-the-grocery-store/975295/11 "2022-11-21T12:53:54Z")
If there’s a wheat shortage, you’d think there’d be a bread shortage too, but I’m not seeing one. The shortage I’m seeing is of gravy-type cat food. Last week, there were all kinds of paste (paté) catfood but no gravy. You’d think they could adjust the quantities made of each to match demand. ---
**Author:** ![velomont](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8491ac/32.png) [@velomont](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/velomont)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2022, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-put-a-limit-on-how-much-ramen-you-can-buy-at-the-grocery-store/975295/12 "2022-11-21T13:03:08Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > My favourite brand, Sapporo Ichiban That’s mine as well, and whenever I’ve tried others I’ve been disappointed. At my local IGA it’s a bit of a crap shoot as to what flavours they’ll have in stock and whether they’ll have any in stock at all. Sadly, last night there was none. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2022, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-put-a-limit-on-how-much-ramen-you-can-buy-at-the-grocery-store/975295/13 "2022-11-21T13:06:11Z")
> [@dtilque](#): > > If there’s a wheat shortage, you’d think there’d be a bread shortage too, but I’m not seeing one. I’d hesitate to call it a “shortage”, but our bakery vendor, which supplies us and several of our competitors around the region, has had trouble keeping up with our bread orders lately. We’ve been out of store-brand white bread all weekend, but we have plenty of the brand-name white bread, which comes from the same bakery and is identical to the store brand in all senses except for branding and price point. I get the impression that they’re prioritizing their brand name bread because it’s more profitable for them, and rationing the store brands with what they have left after they’ve filled the orders for the brand name. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2022, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-put-a-limit-on-how-much-ramen-you-can-buy-at-the-grocery-store/975295/14 "2022-11-21T15:50:26Z")
I don’t recall seeing any signs on the pasta, flour or bread so I doubt its due to a wheat shortage. Also the sign mentioned the limit was due to high demand for the product. My point was that I’m wondering if this is a sign that people are being squeezed so hard by inflation that they’ve started turning to ramen en masse to deal with food insecurity. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2022, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-put-a-limit-on-how-much-ramen-you-can-buy-at-the-grocery-store/975295/15 "2022-11-21T15:58:55Z")
> [@Wesley\_Clark](#): > > My point was that I’m wondering if this is a sign that people are being squeezed so hard by inflation that they’ve started turning to ramen en masse to deal with food insecurity. Certainly, inflation on food products has been significant for the past year-plus, and many people are likely looking to stretch their food budgets. BTW, there is, absolutely, [a global wheat shortage](https://www.saveur.com/culture/tips-wheat-shortage/), and wheat flour prices in the U.S. are substantially higher than they were a year ago. Ramen seems to be at the unfortunate intersection of a traditionally low (often _very_ low) price point, and rising input costs. But, I still think that what you saw, at _your_ local grocery store, may not necessarily be a sign of a broader “en masse” movement of people wanting to eat ramen. ---
**Author:** ![SuntanLotion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suntanlotion/32/16165_2.png) [@SuntanLotion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuntanLotion)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2022, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-put-a-limit-on-how-much-ramen-you-can-buy-at-the-grocery-store/975295/16 "2022-11-21T16:01:01Z")
I am honestly wondering how ramen is nutritious. Wouldnt a can of beans be inexpensive but so much healthier? ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2022, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-put-a-limit-on-how-much-ramen-you-can-buy-at-the-grocery-store/975295/17 "2022-11-21T16:05:28Z")
> [@Wesley\_Clark](#): > > I’m wondering if this is a sign that people are being squeezed so hard by inflation that they’ve started turning to ramen en masse to deal with food insecurity. Quite a few people seem to just like the stuff; and/or the convenience. Is the store also sold out of beans and rice? ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2022, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-put-a-limit-on-how-much-ramen-you-can-buy-at-the-grocery-store/975295/18 "2022-11-21T16:36:43Z")
No ramen shortage or limits at my grocery. Will report back after 2nd grocery. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2022, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-put-a-limit-on-how-much-ramen-you-can-buy-at-the-grocery-store/975295/19 "2022-11-21T20:14:53Z")
Ramen supplies have been spotty here for the whole Covid era–sometimes plenty, sometimes none. (When I buy it, I buy a 24-pack tray for 2 or 3 dollars.) ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2022, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-put-a-limit-on-how-much-ramen-you-can-buy-at-the-grocery-store/975295/20 "2022-11-21T20:23:12Z")
> [@dtilque](#): > > If there’s a wheat shortage, you’d think there’d be a bread shortage too, but I’m not seeing one. We’re seeing bread shortages. You sometimes can’t find English muffins at all. And my favorite varieties of bread (like Orowheat Dill Rye) are nearly impossible to find. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-put-a-limit-on-how-much-ramen-you-can-buy-at-the-grocery-store/975295.md?page=2)