On Monday evening, Kelly had intended to cook dinner and stay in with her family. Instead, she asked her husband to put the children to bed so she could drive to Wegman’s and stock up on $100 worth of Rummo pasta in a panic.
Kelly, a 42-year-old product manager from the Philadelphia suburbs, has celiac disease. For her, consuming gluten sets off an immune reaction that causes digestive problems. She noticed other gluten-free individuals on Reddit and TikTok expressing alarm over a potential 107% tariff on Italian pasta imports being considered by the U.S. The Wall Street Journal reported that this increase might cause some companies to exit the U.S. market as soon as January.
This could mean that by January, American shoppers may no longer find their preferred Italian brands on store shelves—including Rummo, which Kelly and others with celiac disease say makes the “best” gluten-free spaghetti from a blend of corn and brown rice. (Kelly chose not to share her last name due to concerns about backlash from Donald Trump supporters. Representatives for Rummo did not reply to a request for comment.)
“The thought of not having any pasta that I can eat safely and that won’t be extremely expensive was a bit frightening,” Kelly shared.
Although the Trump administration has imposed many tariffs, this one struck a chord with Americans who enjoy Italian cuisine, sparking fears of a pasta shortage. MSNBC host Chris Hayes tweeted, “I’m now a one-issue voter.” A Reddit user commented, “This is the attack on Italians in the USA that conservatives think ‘cancelling Columbus Day’ is.” On TikTok, someone quoted AJ Soprano: “So what, no fucking ziti now?”
The U.S. Department of Commerce has newly proposed 92% of this tariff, claiming that Italian producers have been selling pasta at unfairly low prices. An additional 15% comes from existing Trump tariffs on European Union imports. According to The Wall Street Journal, Italy accounts for $770 million in annual pasta sales to the U.S.
However, losing these sales wouldn’t necessarily lead to a pasta shortage in America. “Most pasta sold in the United States is already made domestically,” explained Scott Laing, a clinical assistant professor of finance at the University at Buffalo School of Management.
Barilla’s distinctive blue-and-red boxes are common in U.S. grocery stores, holding a 34% market share. As an Italian company with production facilities in both Italy and the U.S., experts expect families will still be able to purchase a $2 box of Barilla spaghetti in January. A company representative declined to comment to The Guardian, stating that “the matter is still under evaluation by the DoC.”
Those most likely to feel the impact are individuals like Kelly with celiac disease or pasta enthusiasts who prefer high-end imported brands. “A $5.99 box of gluten-free pasta might jump to $11 or $12,” Laing noted. “I don’t think most consumers will notice the difference.”
That is, unless U.S. producers use the tariffs as a reason to raise their prices as well. “News about the tariffs is already making consumers think pasta prices are going up, without realizing that most pasta isn’t actually imported from Italy,” Laing said. “Stores could increase prices slightly, adding a dollar to an off-brand box even though it’s not subject to the tariff.”
Scott Ketchum, founder of the U.S.-based artisanal pasta brand Sfoglini, agreed that American manufacturers might “take advantage” of the situation and raise their prices a bit. “That’s just business,” he remarked.
Sfoglini pasta is pricier than most grocery store brands—a 12-ounce box costs around $6—because it uses organic wheat imported from Italy. Ketchum mentioned he’s already paying tariffs on that ingredient. “You never really know what”He’s going to keep going until it’s finished,” Ketchum said. “The wheat tariffs were initially 10%, but after negotiations, he actually raised them by another 5%.”
As an Italian-American, Katie Gia eats pasta frequently. “It’s quick to reheat, and that’s convenient,” she explained. Gia, a 29-year-old Florida resident, has a gluten allergy but can’t afford to stockpile pasta like Kelly did. “Gluten-free pasta is usually in limited supply,” Gia noted. “I’ll buy a few bags of my preferred brands, but I know many others will be doing the same.”
The pasta tariff coincides with rising grocery costs nationwide. In September, the Yale Budget Lab estimated tariffs would add $2,400 annually to household expenses. Meanwhile, SNAP benefits have been delayed due to the government shutdown, causing hunger and anxiety for those dependent on food stamps. Despite Trump dismissing living cost concerns by claiming “inflation is way down” earlier this month, grocery prices have increased during his administration.
Kelly mentioned she left many boxes of her favorite gluten-free pasta on the shelves at her local Wegmans: “I didn’t take it all.” She acknowledges that there are more serious global issues than missing out on spaghetti.
“I feel silly saying, ‘but my pasta!'” Kelly admitted. “But with celiac disease, so much mental energy is constantly spent on food—what can I eat? What’s safe? It’s a constant, low-level worry. The possibility of losing a staple food you can safely eat is just another challenge we have to face.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Of course Here is a list of FAQs about the potential impact of tariffs on pasta framed around the question Are we out of ziti already
General Beginner Questions
1 What does Are we out of ziti already mean
Its a humorous and worried way of asking if popular types of pasta like ziti are becoming scarce or too expensive specifically due to new tariffs on imports
2 Why is pasta suddenly in the news
Pasta is in the news because of proposed tariffs on goods from certain countries Since a lot of the pasta Americans eat is imported these taxes could make it more expensive and harder to find
3 What are tariffs
Tariffs are taxes that a government adds to products imported from other countries The goal is often to protect domestic industries but it usually makes those imported goods more expensive for consumers
4 Is there actually a pasta shortage right now
As of now there is no widespread physical shortage The concern is about future price increases and potential reduced selection on store shelves if the tariffs are implemented
5 Which types of pasta could be affected
While ziti is used as an example many popular Italianstyle pastas could be impacted including penne spaghetti linguine and specialty shapes that are often imported from Italy
Deeper Advanced Questions
6 Why would tariffs on imports affect pasta if we make it in the US
Even though the US produces pasta a significant amount is imported to meet demand and for specific varieties Tariffs disrupt this supply chain and domestic producers might also raise their prices due to reduced competition
7 What is the connection between Trump tariffs and my grocery bill
The connection is that when a government imposes tariffs the companies importing the goods have to pay more These companies often pass that extra cost onto consumers leading to higher prices at the grocery store
8 Could this lead to panic buying like with toilet paper during the pandemic
Its possible News about potential shortages can trigger consumer anxiety leading people to stock up This surge in demand can then create a temporary real shortage even if the supply chain was initially fine
9 Are there any benefits to these tariffs
The stated goal is to protect American pasta manufacturers and farmers like dur
