No end in sight for Japan ‘ crisps crisis’

Legions of Japanese crisps addicts are suffering and it doesn’t look like they’ll be getting their full fix anytime soon.

The country is in the midst of a dire crisps shortage after violent typhoons wiped out potato crops in top tuber producing Hokkaido.

The unprecedented series of storms last year has forced chipmakers Calbee and rival Koikeya to halt production of some of their most popular flavors – including pizza and French salad.

Pictures online have shown store shelves bare and bags have been selling for inflated prices on Internet auctions.

Calbee, Japan’s top snacks maker, has stopped selling about 30 kinds of crisps in all or part of the country since the middle of April.

A number of government regulations on potato imports is exacerbating the shortage.