Pactiv Evergreen of Lake Forest, Illinois, which claims itself as "the leading manufacturer of fresh food and beverage packaging in North America," acknowledged in a statement Friday that demand for its milk cartons "continues to be significantly higher than projected."
The shortage is harming the company's ability to "fully supply some school milk orders," according to Matt Herrick, a spokeswoman for the International Dairy Foods Association.
School Officials Prepare
School officials in New York, Pennsylvania, California, and Washington state have stated that they are planning for a shortfall, while the USDA stated that the supply chain problem impacts "multiple states."
State education officials in California advised schools to be flexible in how they provide milk to students, including restricting milk options, using boxed, shelf-stable milk, and distributing milk through bulk dispensers.
The carton scarcity has prompted officials around the country to devise contingency plans for milk and juice provided in hospitals, nursing homes, and prisons.
In Clarence, New York, school district officials warned parents that if the cartons run out, they will supply "small bottles of water or cups of milk with lids."
Milk is supposed to be supplied with school meals, but the USDA's Food and Nutrition Service issued a letter late last month enabling districts to offer alternate types or amounts of milk - or to omit milk entirely - during the supply shortage.
It is unknown how long the carton shortage will last. School authorities in Everett, Washington, warned parents that a disruption in cafeteria milk supplies might last "up to several months."
Read also: Gold Rush at Costco: Gold Bars Selling Out in Hours
What Milk Manufacturers Are Doing
According to Herrick, US milk manufacturers are collaborating with other packaging suppliers to overcome the issue. He predicted that the problem would improve within weeks and be cured by early next year.
To deal with the situation, several school districts will buy milk in bulk and pour it for pupils. Others stated that once the cartoned milk supply was depleted, they would serve the milk in lidded glasses or give students juice or water instead, according to The New York Times.
In Pennsylvania, a school district in Centre County announced that it will provide self-service milk kiosks for middle and high school students and distribute it to elementary pupils.
The scarcity comes as environmentalists have been campaigning for milk cartons to become a thing of the past in recent years. Some schools began transitioning from single-use packaging to bulk dispensers serving milk in reusable cups in 2020.
Proponents of the dispensers, which would require investment to install in cafeterias, argue that they could help reduce food packaging and waste. Young people are also shifting away from milk in favor of other plant-based alternatives.
Related article: California: CVUSD's New School Policy to Notify Parents About Children's Gender Identity Change Signs Leads to Lawsuit
