In yet another case of TikTok versus the supermarket supply chain, Australia is facing a bizarre yet serious problem—cottage cheese has disappeared from store shelves. The culprit? A viral TikTok recipe that’s turned the once-overlooked dairy staple into the hottest ingredient in town.
The Recipe That Started It All
It all began with the “Hot Honey Sweet Potato Beef Bowl,” a protein-packed, flavor-bomb of a dish that combines roasted sweet potatoes, juicy beef, a drizzle of spicy honey, and—of course—a creamy dollop of cottage cheese. Social media influencers like Michael Finch and Danielle Mitchell catapulted the dish into internet fame, and before long, every health-conscious foodie in Australia wanted a taste.
The result? A full-blown cottage cheese crisis.
Supermarkets Scrambling to Keep Up
Major retailers like Coles and Woolworths have confirmed that demand for cottage cheese has skyrocketed, leaving shelves wiped clean. A Coles spokesperson admitted, “We’ve been seeing tubs fly off the shelves faster than we can stock them.” Some stores have reported weeks-long shortages, with desperate shoppers resorting to tracking deliveries and even calling multiple locations in hopes of securing a tub.
It’s feta-gate all over again—remember when the viral baked feta pasta recipe caused a feta shortage? Well, history has repeated itself, and this time, it’s cottage cheese getting the star treatment.
Why Is Cottage Cheese the New Superstar?
For years, cottage cheese had a bit of an image problem. It was seen as your grandma’s low-fat diet food, something bodybuilders ate for protein, but never exactly cool. TikTok changed that.
Health influencers have been praising it for being high in protein, low in fat, and versatile enough to be used in everything from creamy pasta sauces to high-protein ice cream. Dietitians have even jumped on board, with experts like Anna Debenham saying, “The cottage cheese trend is awesome—it’s getting people to eat a nutritious, high-protein food in fun and creative ways.”
What Happens Now?
With demand at an all-time high, dairy suppliers are scrambling to boost production. Supermarkets are also working closely with suppliers to restock shelves as quickly as possible. But if history is any indication, this trend isn’t going away anytime soon.
So, if you manage to get your hands on a tub of cottage cheese, consider yourself lucky. Just don’t be surprised if you see someone side-eyeing your cart at the checkout.
And if all else fails? Try making your own. Because, let’s face it, TikTok might have already moved on to the next viral ingredient by the time you finally find a tub.