Media seem to have a major part in perceived shortages. Showing empty shelves has an impact.
When some politicians in Germany started to tell on TV that there is enough for everyone provided that everyone bought only what they need, panic buying and hoarding started to pick up pace.
Some products vanished from the shelves due to conflicts between the manufacturer and the retailer. For the consumer the products just stopped being available.
We also had shelves with very limited choice in baker shops. The reason was simple: the employees where ordered to bake a limited portfolio and fewer items to avoid wasting unsold produce.
Maybe it´s time for a return to the national loaf and the Woulton pie.