May 13, 2026
TOKYO – Calbee, Inc. plans to change the packaging of flagship products, including Potato Chips, to black and white, it was learned Monday.
The decision to decolorize is due to ongoing shortages of solvents and resins. The cause is a lack of naphtha, a key raw material for printing ink, as a consequence of the current situation in the Middle East.
The company has notified retailers and other stakeholders of the planned change.
The change will be gradually applied to 14 products, including the Lightly Salted and Consomme Punch flavors of Potato Chips and the Kappa Ebisen shrimp-flavored snack, starting late May.
Calbee is prioritizing “supply stabilization” through the temporary introduction of black-and-white packaging.
Similar moves may also be taken by other manufacturers.