Minister urges food stockpiling for extreme

Households should stockpile food to prepare for extreme weather linked to a major climate event, a government minister has said. Environment Secretary Dame Angela Eagle warned the developing El Niño, described as the strongest in a generation, will lead to more extreme storms in Britain.

Her comments accompany a National Audit Office report highlighting vulnerabilities in the UK's food supply chain. The NAO warned the chain is at risk from cyber-attacks, plant or human disease outbreaks, and extreme weather. Climate change is cited as a longer-term chronic risk that could endanger food supply.

Minister's warning on El Niño

Dame Angela told reporters the country is about to experience "probably the largest El Niño that has ever been seen." She said this will lead to drier summers, wetter winters, and more extreme storms domestically. The phenomenon is expected to cause more significant flooding damage in Asia.

"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," she said. The minister framed this as part of building personal resilience.

Audit office critique of preparedness

The NAO report criticized the government's reliance on the private sector to manage food supply disruptions. It stated the Department for Food, the Environment and Rural Affairs had not done enough in recent years to improve supply chain resilience. The disruptions could push up prices and leave vulnerable people struggling to buy food.

The report also compared UK household preparedness unfavorably with other nations. It said UK households are less prepared for emergencies than those in several other countries, including Finland, Sweden, and other European Union nations. Ministers should encourage household preparation and learn from these countries' approaches, the NAO added.

Government and industry response

A Defra spokesperson said the report showed food supply risks were becoming more complex. The government is working with farmers and industry to strengthen resilience. "While our food businesses and supermarkets have continued to feed the nation through significant disruption, we will carefully consider the report's findings and recommendations," the spokesperson said.

Industry figures echoed the concerns. Phil Pluck, chief executive of the Cold Chain Federation, told reporters that Britain was "pretty close to crisis." He cited targeting by Russian cyber-hackers who "know that there are pinch points in the food supply system." El Niño, global shipping disruption, and pandemic threats mean you cannot "just rely on the private sector coming through every single time," he said.

Pluck explicitly endorsed household stockpiling. "Yes, we should. There should be some sensible stocking in each household." he said.

Planned strategy for emergencies

The government announced plans in July to set out steps households can take to prepare for food and water shortages caused by extreme weather or cyber-attacks. These steps will form part of a national strategy to be unveiled by the end of 2026. The aim is to bring UK emergency preparedness closer into line with European countries.

The NAO said the government is due to unveil a strategy about preparing for national emergencies later this year.