New York’s Little Manila shops are running out of popular Filipino sauces and shrimp paste (bagoong alamang), leaving many customers disappointed. This shortage happened after the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) banned imports of several Filipino sauces, including Mang Tomas, Jufran, UFC ketchup, and bagoong, due to an ingredient that isn’t allowed in the US.
Local Pinoys Feeling the Pinch
Aling Vicky, a regular shopper in Woodside, shared her frustration: “I use shrimp paste in almost everything I cook. It’s perfect for coconut milk dishes and even okra! Now, I’m forced to save what little I have left because the stores are empty.”
Fil-Am Store employee Ivan said the shortage is also hurting local Filipino restaurants. “We’ve run out of shrimp paste and sauces. This is affecting dishes like kare-kare and lechon kawali. Customers are upset—without the right ingredients, the taste just isn’t the same,” he explained.
Many hope supplies will arrive by the end of November, but for now, it’s tough luck for anyone craving authentic Filipino flavors.
