After sunflower oil and flour: Now the fish sticks are getting scarce

Created: 2022-06-02 05:25

By: Patricia Huber

Production of fish sticks is halting.

This means that the children's classic could soon become scarce.

© Bernd Juergens/Imago Images

The popular fish fingers are made from Alaska pollock - and it comes mainly from Russian waters.

But supplies have stalled.

Bremerhaven - First cereals and vegetable oils, now also fish fingers.

Because of the Ukraine war, the next shortage is threatening on the German supermarket shelves.

The popular fish fingers may soon no longer be available everywhere.

This is not only due to the Ukraine war, but also to China's strict zero-Covid strategy.

Fish Fingers: Alaska Pollock comes mostly from Russia

But what do Russia and China have to do with fish fingers in German supermarkets anyway?

70 percent of the fish used for fish fingers, gourmet fillets and the like comes from Russian waters.

This is reported by the

.

Matthias Keller, Managing Director of the Federal Association of the German Fish Industry and Fish Wholesalers, explains the consequences of this: "The supply chain for Alaska Pollock has come to a massive standstill."

In addition, the fish is then usually filleted in China.

But there, work and transport come to a standstill at regular intervals.

The corona crisis and the strict politics in the country are causing additional problems for the supply chains.

Finally, the breading consists, among other things, of the two deficiency products sunflower oil and wheat flour.

The fish stick is currently an absolute crisis product.

Fish fingers: Captain Iglo supplier throttles production

And that is exactly what has serious consequences for what is probably the best-known manufacturer of fish fingers in Germany.

, the Frozen Fish company in Bremerhaven produces

48,000 tons of fish fingers and 20,000 tons of gourmet fillets per year - including for igloos.

But now 440 employees have been sent on short-time work.

According to Iglo, the uncertainties in the supply chains have "led to delays in some raw materials, so that a continuous production process cannot be guaranteed."

Nevertheless, the warehouses at Iglo are full and the fish fingers are still available.

Matthias Keller can also reassure lovers of the dish: "The fish finger is not dying out.

It's just less available right now.” However, consumers should definitely feel an impact.

As with so many other products affected by the crisis, the price of fish fingers is also expected to increase.