Some Americans have been stocking up on toilet paper as port workers continue industrial action, according to posts on social media. Several videos and images have appeared online of empty shelves at grocery stores following the commencement of strike action by dockworkers represented by the International Longshoremen's Association (ILA) across East and Gulf Coast ports on October 1.

While the major port strike on the East Coast and Gulf Coast could threaten Americans’ supply of bananas, it likely won’t directly cause a toilet paper shortage — but that hasn’t stopped consumers from panic-buying the product.