Japan snack packaging goes black-and-white as Iran war hits ink supply

Black and white are replacing colorful packaging on some Japanese snack products after the war in Iran disrupted shipments of a key ink ingredient. Tokyo-based Calbee, known for its potato chips and cereal, announced the change this week, stressing that the contents inside remain unaffected. The company’s popular items are sold across Japan and exported to the United States, China, and Australia.

“This measure aims to help maintain stable product supply,” Calbee said in a statement. Starting May 25, the company will limit ink colors to just two across 14 products in its lineup. Founded in 1949 and employing over 5,000 people, Calbee noted it is unclear how long the monochrome packaging will last.

The shift is the latest corporate response to rising prices and shortages of oil and other goods triggered by the Middle East war and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Japan relies almost entirely on imports for its oil needs but has so far navigated concerns relatively calmly, with the government reassuring the public about national oil reserves. Still, the country faces pressure on naphtha, a petroleum product used in plastics and inks.