Editing Food Shortage

{{Choice
| name      = Food Shortage
| category  = Event
| effects   = <table class="rb-ib-subtable"><tr><th>Effect</th><th>Value</th></tr><tr><td>[[Happiness]]</td><td class="rb-ib-nerf">-50%</td></tr></table>
| special   = Automatically applied when {{Icon|Food}} supply runs out; removed when food is restored
}}
'''Food Shortage''' is an automatic penalty that is applied when a settlement's {{Icon|Food}} supply runs out. It inflicts a severe -50% happiness penalty that persists until food production is restored.

== Effects ==
{| class="wikitable"
! Effect !! Value !! Description
|-
| [[Happiness]] || -50% || Reduces settlement happiness by 50%
|}
The -50% happiness penalty is the harshest single modifier in the game. It will almost certainly push a settlement's happiness low enough to trigger [[Strike|strikes]], further compounding the crisis by reducing production output.

== Details ==
Food Shortage is '''automatically applied''' when a settlement's {{Icon|Food}} supply reaches zero. It cannot be manually activated or disabled through the [[Choices]] menu. The penalty is removed as soon as the settlement's food supply is restored above zero.

The Food Shortage penalty stacks with all other happiness modifiers. Settlements already running happiness-reducing choices like [[Taxation]] (-30%) or [[Cramped Quarters]] (-30%) will see their happiness drop to critically low levels.

== Strategy ==
Preventing a Food Shortage should be a top priority. The -50% happiness penalty is devastating and triggers a cascade of problems: [[Strike|strikes]] reduce production, which makes it harder to recover food supply, which prolongs the shortage.

Maintaining a food surplus through diverse food sources is the best defense. [[Field|Fields]] (potato and maize types), [[Fishery|Fisheries]], [[Bakery|Bakeries]], [[Creamery|Creameries]], and [[Foraging Hut|Foraging Huts]] all contribute to {{Icon|Food}} production. Keeping a healthy stock of {{Icon|Food}} in [[Warehouse|storage]] provides a buffer against temporary production dips.

If a Food Shortage occurs, immediately prioritize food recovery. Consider enabling [[Low Rations]] (×0.8 food consumption) or [[Vegan Society]] (+20% food production) to help restore the food supply faster. Importing {{Icon|Food}} through the [[Market]] or [[Port]] is another quick fix, though it requires {{Icon|Coin}}.

== Changelog ==
{{Changelog}}

== See also ==
* [[Choices]]
* [[Food]]
* [[Happiness]]
* [[Strike]]
* [[Low Rations]]
* [[Vegan Society]]

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