Preparedness
Food Supply Disruption
Food Supply Disruption
Food reaches our shops, businesses and communities through a complex network of growers, suppliers, distributors and retailers. Most of the time these supply chains work well, but events such as severe weather, flooding, transport disruption, power outages or other emergencies can occasionally affect the availability of some food products.
Being prepared can help reduce the impact of any disruption on your household. Keeping a small supply of everyday essentials and knowing where to find reliable information can help you and your family manage unexpected situations more easily.
What You Can Do
There are several simple steps you can take to improve your resilience during periods of disruption:
Stay Informed -
- Keep up to date with information from local authorities, government agencies and trusted news sources. During significant incidents, official information will provide the most reliable updates and advice.
- Keep a Small Supply of Everyday Essentials
Keep a small supply of foods that your household uses regularly. Consider items such as:
- Tinned vegetables, fruit and beans
- Rice, pasta and cereals
- Long-life milk
- Tinned fish and other cupboard staples
There's no need to stockpile large quantities. Simply maintaining a small reserve of everyday items can help if supplies are temporarily affected.
Store Drinking Water -
- Keeping some bottled drinking water at home can be useful in the event of a disruption to water supplies or difficulties accessing shops.
- When planning ahead, remember to consider the needs of young children, older people, pets and anyone with medical conditions.
Plan for Dietary Requirements -
If someone in your household has allergies, a medical condition or specific dietary requirements, consider keeping an appropriate supply of essential foods and other necessary items.
Reduce Food Waste -
- Making the most of the food you already have can help during any disruption.
- Plan meals in advance.
- Store food correctly.
- Check expiry dates regularly.
- Use older items before newer purchases.
Prepare for Power Outages -
- Power cuts can affect refrigeration and food storage.
- Consider keeping a small supply of foods that do not require refrigeration, cooking or extensive preparation. If you rely on canned food, it is also worth keeping a manual tin opener at home.
Support Vulnerable Household Members -
Think about the needs of anyone who may require additional support, including:
- Older relatives
- Babies and young children
- People Those with specialist dietary or medical requirementswith disabilities.
Planning ahead can help ensure essential needs continue to be met during a prolonged disruption.
Support Your Community -
- Looking out for others can make a significant difference during an emergency.
- If it is safe to do so, check on neighbours, friends and relatives who may need help accessing food, medicines or other essential supplies.
Advice for Businesses -
Businesses can also take steps to prepare for supply chain disruption. Consider reviewing your business continuity plans, identifying alternative suppliers where possible, and understanding how severe weather, utility outages or transport disruption could affect your operations.