I've commented before that other than mega billion dollar companies, companies deeply tied into government (like defense contractors) or a tunnel vision (currently ventilators and masks), government never considers or communicates with the private sector at all. This not only leads to idiotic changes or rules, but serious production problems and even some sector saying "to hell with this" and just getting out of it.
I'll try not to ramble, but do wish to make the point. Someone we know told us yesterday a gallon of milk he bought the day before turned to a white gel overnight. It was not spoiled or near expiration date. I know what that means. Some dairy farmer ran out of some chemical he uses so used another than generally works for liquids, but did not know it reacts with milk. That then could do so to all the other milk it was added to down the food processing path. While people think of food products in terms of mega companies and grocery stores, actually food is a network originating for hundreds of thousands of small sources - domestic and international. Most people don't know there are unnamed chemicals in nearly all consumable products. For example, bottled purified water has chemicals added to it, with the USDA approving doing so - and approving not stating so on the label because it toxic. Other than salt and citrus, most preservatives are poisons. However, the opinion is tiny trace amounts don't hurt you and the dangers of spoiled and contaminated foods and liquids is just too great in the alternative.
Yesterday, I spent most the day buying up the last of a key ingredient for our unique signature product - buying the last of small amounts all over the country - where before I'd just place 1 order once a month. However, now a month's supply is a 5 day supply. Tomorrow I will pursue buying the last in New Zealand and Australia (the EU long out of it). Most mega companies will not bother with tiny purchases and will just be out of inventory. Most small scale companies don't have the funds to carry much inventory. So I am finding it, but that will end.
The rest of yesterday and today I am seeking out and buying up the last of a particularly popular size and style bottle - and any even close to being like it. I'm finding 500 here, a thousand there, 100, and the "big score" of 10,000. If lucky I'll be able to find maybe 20,000. At current levels we need over 100,000 minimally for the next 30 days, and that might not be enough. We're down to about 10,000 or so. Thousands of other companies use that bottle style and size. NONE can get it. The bottle suppliers all estimate replacement inventory the end of April. But I know what that means. It means they hope to get delivery from China by then.
It is just assumed "don't worry, they'll be food." "Don't worry, there will still be over-the-counter drugs." "Don't worry, there will be everything to electric companies to replace blow transformers." "Don't worry, there will be plenty of ........" How does the government know that? The government doesn't know that at all. The government does not communicate with the private sector. There is no assurance empty food shelves will be filled. There is no assurance food processors will have what they need so the food and beverages are safe. Switching to other chemicals or make shift measures carries many risks as well. Masks and ventilators aren't the only thing hospitals can run out of. Here, their supplier of distilled water (true distilled water) just delivered the last 30 five gallon jugs of true zero ppm water - to us. They don't know when they'll have more. Want distilled water? Maybe WalMart has some left. Good enough for a hospital? It's not good enough for us. We tested it a couple years ago. ALMOST zero ppms. ALMOST means NOT distilled water. We are stocking up everything we can realizing everything is going to rapidly cease to be available anywhere in the country - or the free world.
If we lose packaging ability or inventory ability, many food processors and other operations of others lose the ability to do their thing too. Some of our producing commercial customers are going into panic mode. How can they keep operating? At first, it was "YAHOO! We're making money now!' with huge sales increases. But this is becoming "how do we stay in business without what we must have?!"
