Story Archive

The Season to be Jolly

In August, an accident at Florida’s Airgas Corp. destroyed two tanker trucks and their cargo, as well as a holding tank. The cargo: nitrous oxide — “laughing gas” — which is not only used for anesthesia, but also as the foaming gas for canned whipped cream. Thus there will be a shortage of Reddi-wip and similar dessert toppings in the run-up to the “peak holiday season,” says Reddi-wip’s manufacturer, Conagra Foods. Airgas, the country’s largest producer of the gas, will give priority to medical needs, and supermarket inventory of whipped cream won’t fully recover until February. (RC/Los Angeles Times) ...Officials at Kraft Heinz, who make Cool Whip, deny any involvement.