Your Dijon Mustard May Soon Be Even More Expensive

There's a reason Mustard won the MLB All-Star Game hot dog race in 2019. The condiment is an American icon — in fact, according to the Washington Post, Americans spend around $150 million every year on mustard, and 33% of consumers finish an entire jar or more of the stuff every single month. Grey Poupon is the star of countless rap lyrics, like Kendrick Lamar's "HUMBLE.", which topped the biggest Triple J Hottest 100 ever (via Billboard). But, even with all the types of mustard available in most grocery stores, home cooks could never forget about Dijon. Whether you're topping the ultimate homemade hot dog or mixing it into your deviled eggs, Dijon mustard is a condiment after our own hearts.

But, alas, the mustard world extends far beyond the radio and the ballpark. Due to climate change and rising conflict overseas, French supermarkets are running out of Dijon mustard — and American grocery stores could be feeling the effects of this soon.

Due to climate change in Burgundy, France, and Canada — the two largest mustard seed producers in the world — 2021's yield was 50% less than expected, per The Guardian. Luc Vandermaesen, general manager of French mustard company Reine de Dijon, says the Russia-Ukraine conflict has further limited the already-scarce mustard seed supply. Both countries are major producers and exporters of the crop, he tells The Guardian, which has spurred a massive spike in retail cost worldwide. 

French news outlet France 24 predicts the average Dijon price to increase to an all-time high of $1,700 per metric ton, nearly twice what the condiment cost the year before. Reine de Dijon sales director Christophe Planes tells the outlet that the price has already spiked four times recently, and is likely to go up a fifth time unless conditions change and mustard seeds become more available.

Mustard isn't the only commodity affected by the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Recent months have seen wheat prices spike worldwide, as Russia and Ukraine make up "29% of global wheat exports," per FOX Business. Speaking to Yahoo Finance, stock expert Scott Bauer predicts that gas prices may hit $5 per gallon by Memorial Day. Gro Intelligence reports that fertilizer futures are up 32% since Russia invaded Ukraine in late February, and they aren't projected to go down any time soon. At least for now, it looks like foodies who want a fancier mustard selection will simply have to pay more.