Social media platforms saw users post about shelves in their local supermarkets out of toilet paper. Experts said it was because consumer behaviour, not the U.S. port strike.
Dockworkers in the United States East Coast and Gulf Coast entered the third day of their strike as reports emerged of localized toilet paper shortages across the U.S.
Ronalds Gonzalez, a supply chain expert from North Carolina State University, told Global News that the perceived shortages have nothing to do with the port strike.
“It is not happening because of the port strike. It is happening because of consumer behaviour,” Gonzales said, adding that most of the toilet paper sold in the U.S. and Canada is produced domestically.
He added, “People should relax. They should buy what they are usually buying. If you are buying one more case of tissue paper (than what you need), then you will cause a problem.”