Why Cottage Cheese Might Be Harder To Find In 2026 - Tasting Table

"Cottage cheese has gone uber, mega viral in the last few years, as people have suddenly become aware of its versatility, as well as its high-protein, low-sugar benefits. Though the virality of cottage cheese first boomed around 2023, supply still hasn't quite caught up with demand, even for some of the largest cottage cheese brands on the planet, which is why this dairy product is one of those grocery items that might be more difficult to find in 2026."

"It started as a TikTok trend, as most fads do these days, where influencers taught viewers how to make popular foods healthier using cottage cheese. Those videos racked up millions and millions of views, which meant more people were going to grocery stores, buying all the cottage cheese they could fit in their hands, and suddenly finding shortages across the globe."

"Brands began seeing a major jump in their sales around late 2023 and 2024, and surging as much as 20% in 2025. This once-popular boomer food became a staple of viral protein recipes, with influencers making cottage cheese ice creams, buffalo chicken dips, queso, bread, cheesecake, and more."

Cottage cheese, historically polarizing among consumers, has undergone a dramatic market transformation following its viral popularity on TikTok beginning in 2023. Influencers demonstrated how to incorporate cottage cheese into healthier versions of popular foods, leveraging its high-protein and low-sugar nutritional profile. These videos accumulated millions of views, prompting consumers to purchase cottage cheese in unprecedented quantities. Major brands experienced sales surges of approximately 20% in 2025, yet supply chains have struggled to meet demand. The trend transformed cottage cheese from a niche product associated with older generations into a mainstream dietary staple, creating persistent global shortages that continue affecting grocery store availability.

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