Calbee switches to black-and-white packaging due to Iran war ink shortage

Japanese snack giant Calbee is temporarily redesigning packaging for 14 products in black and white due to supply disruptions from the Iran war. The conflict, which began on 28 February 2026, has affected naphtha imports—a petroleum-derived ink ingredient—for which Japan relies on the Middle East for about 40% of consumption. The new monochrome designs will appear on items including Potato Chips, Kappa Ebisen, and Frugra granola starting 25 May. Calbee stated the measure aims to maintain stable product supply amid geopolitical risks. The US-Israel war on Iran led to the Strait of Hormuz closure, impacting global oil and gas prices. Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takachi called the crisis's impact on the Indo-Pacific 'enormous.' Over 40,000 civilian buildings in Iran have been damaged in the conflict.