In the 1980s, farmers in Europe were given a quota of how much milk they could produce. Up until 2015, the supply and demand for dairy was fairly stable. However, in 2015, the quota was lifted and farmers could produce as much milk as they wanted.
The result? Milk is more difficult for farmers to sell. Most of the milk is going towards creating more profit-yielding cream and cheese—and not enough towards butter. The demand for butter is higher than ever and the supply is dwindling, making the country fearful for one of its most iconic pastries: the croissant.
