The Unexpected Items Brits Must Stockpile Now to Survive Any Emergency – Are You Ready?
So, the world isn’t ending—at least, not today—but here we are, Brits being nudged to stockpile certain foods like it’s the sequel to a post-apocalyptic blockbuster. Why? Blame it on El Niño, that massive climate troublemaker stirring up storms and supply chain chaos from the tropics all the way to your local Tesco. Pretty soon, that avocado toast might become a rare luxury, and your morning cereal? Well, it’s playing a risky game thanks to unpredictable droughts and downpours worldwide. The UK government is waving the flag, urging everyone to chuck more long-lasting goodies into their carts—because hey, who doesn’t want to be a bit more resilient when Mother Nature decides to throw a tantrum? Ready to find out which snacks will keep you smiling through the storm? LEARN MORE.
No – the end of the world isn’t upon us just yet, but Brits have been urged to stock up on certain items over food supply chain fears.
Mainly due to concerns over major weather events, certain foods could be at risk which could effect importation around the world including to the UK.
The Government previously urged people to add more long-life products to their baskets when out shopping.
Environment Secretary Dame Angela Eagle told the Guardian the powerful natural climate phenomenon of El Niño will lead to ‘more extreme storms in this country’.
El Nino is set to cause havoc (Getty Stock)
The National Audit Office (NAO) warned Britain’s food supply chain is among those at risk given the growing threat of cyber-attacks and the climate crisis.
The weather phenomenon, which is expected to be the most intense in decades could bring periods of extreme cold and heat, as well as dangerous droughts and torrential rainfall in different parts of the world.
Confirmed to be happening back in June, El Niño occurs when ocean temperatures in the central and eastern tropical Pacific become unusually warm, disrupting the wider climate.
A ‘significant El Niño’ is likely to occur towards the end of 2026, with some forecasts predicting the strongest event on record, the UK Government said.
The weather phenomenon could impact food supply (NASA, VIIRS)
For the tropics, southern Africa and north-east Australia can be at heightened risk of drought. While north-western Europe (including the UK) is likely to experience wetter and stormier conditions this coming autumn and early winter, according to the Met Office.
Dame Angela said: “We’re about to experience probably the largest El Niño that has ever been seen, and that will lead to drier summers, wetter winters, with more extreme storms in this country.
“It will do a lot more damage in Asia with flooding, and therefore I think that we need to take it seriously.
“If you’ve got a store of a bit of food that can keep you going for a while before the emergency services can get to you, you’re going to be a lot better off than if you haven’t.
Dame Angela Eagle (Wiktor Szymanowicz/Future Publishing via Getty Images)
“So some of it is that kind of preparation for just being a bit more resilient.”
What items should people buy?
The disruptions could send food prices soaring and be responsible for leaving vulnerable people struggling to buy foods.
The NAO said ministers should encourage households to prepare for supply chain disruptions and learn from the approaches taken by other countries.
Senior nutrition scientist Dr Sammie Gill, from the British Nutrition Foundation, told the BBC that certain food groups should be proritised.
Currently around 50 percent of the food in the UK is imported, including 80 percent of fruit and veg.
A lot of fruit and veg is imported (Getty)
He told the broadcaster that complex carbohydrates such as wheat biscuits, wholegrain cereals, crackers and breads, plus oats, rice and pasta are top of the list, as well as proteins like canned chickpeas, lentils, kidney beans, unsalted nuts, peanut butter and canned oily fish such as tuna, mackerel and sardines.
Key risks include to rice from multiple key producers such as India, Thailand, Vietnam.
Wheat and grains will also be hit due to risk of droughts in Australia and the USA, leading to reduced exports. And tropical commodities such as coffee and cocoa are particularly vulnerable.
Because of this, dieticians also suggested tinned fruits, pickled foods and long-life milk, as well as up to 3l of drinking water per person per day.
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