Calbee will start selling potato chips in black and white packages due to naphtha-derived ink shortage from the war in Iran. | CALBEE

In a surprise move that could have industrywide repercussions, worries about a naphtha shortage due to the Iran war and a possible impact on ink production have led food manufacturer Calbee to switch to black-and-white packaging for some of its snacks.

“Calbee … will temporarily revise packaging specifications for certain products in response to supply instability affecting certain raw materials amid ongoing tensions in the Middle East,” Calbee said Tuesday.

The company will temporarily switch packages for 14 products, including a range of potato chips as well as the company’s signature Kappa Ebisen — which comes in bright red packaging — and Frugra, short for fruit granola, starting May 25.

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