From Quartz:
More desserts are expected to show up topless at US holiday parties this year—the result of a whipped cream shortage.
That’s because canned whipped-cream companies that rely on nitrous oxide are still reeling from an August explosion in the loading dock of an Airgas plant in Cantonment, Florida, according to the Chicago Tribune. The blast killed one person and sent a plume of mustard-colored smoke rising from the facility. As a result, cans of ready-made whipped creams, including brands such as Reddi wip and Cool Whip, will be tougher to find in supermarkets.
Nitrous oxide is used for whipped creams, but is also common in many medical supplies, which have gotten priority as the facility has been repaired. Many grocery stores have said they have plenty of whipped cream in stock, but that if sales pick up as expected, a shortage will be imminent....MORE