Calbee Packages Turn Black and White Due to Middle East Situation; New Perks Arrive on Discord
Major snack manufacturer Calbee has announced that, starting May 11, 2026, the packaging for its flagship products, such as potato chips, will be changed to a black-and-white design. This is due to the unstable supply of "naphtha," which is used as a raw material for plastics and inks. The significant change in the appearance of snacks familiar to our daily lives is drawing considerable attention.
The background to this issue is the worsening situation in the Middle East. As importing naphtha from the Middle East has become difficult, it has become challenging to produce the colorful packaging used until now. Consequently, Calbee decided to design using only two colors—black and white—to minimize the amount of ink used. This change can be described as a painful decision made in response to the shortage of raw materials.
The Japanese government views this situation seriously. In connection with Calbee's packaging change, the government has finalized a policy to interview relevant companies to understand the detailed situation. They plan to conduct a thorough investigation into how the shortage of raw materials will affect other food manufacturers and the Japanese industry as a whole. It is extremely rare for the government to conduct an investigation regarding the packaging changes of an individual company.
This news has also become a major topic on the internet. Because the news was so shocking, even "Kyoko Shimbun," which usually handles satirical news, released a surprised comment saying, "This is actual news." Among consumers, surprise and confusion are spreading over the disappearance of the colorful packaging they have been familiar with for many years.
Meanwhile, in the world of technology, there is news of a new service. Discord, a communication app popular primarily among gamers, has revealed that it has added new perks for users of its paid subscription plan, "Nitro."
The new perks include free access to "Xbox Game Pass," a game subscription service provided by Microsoft. Additionally, a perk allowing the purchase of gaming devices from the famous manufacturer Logitech at a discounted price has been added. Through this, Discord aims to increase the satisfaction of paid members and further grow its user base.
This news demonstrates that international affairs are having a direct impact even on the snacks close to us. Furthermore, in the world of digital services, new initiatives to attract users are actively continuing. We must continue to pay attention to how events happening around the world will affect our own lives.