Britons will be urged to stockpile tinned food, batteries and bottled water under a new campaign launched by the UK government to encourage the public to prepare for emergencies.

Oliver Dowden, deputy prime minister, will on Wednesday unveil a new website designed to help households mitigate potential harm from an array of risks, ranging from flooding and power outages to biosecurity crises such as another pandemic.

However, retailers on Wednesday warned the public not to bulk-buy items following the advice.

“While it is sensible to have some additional food at home, most households will find they already have sufficient non-perishables sitting in the cupboard,” said Andrew Opie from the British Retail Consortium, which represents supermarkets and other retailers.

Cross-posted from https://feddit.uk/post/12237413

Archive link https://ghostarchive.org/archive/oYrR5

  • @wjrii
    0•6 months ago

    If there’s some there there, it’s that between Brexit, global warming (specifically affecting Europe’s scientifically complex combination of high latitude and mild temps), and war on the continent, Britons might be more subject to disasters and shortages than in recent decades.

    • AggressivelyPassiveEnglish
      4•6 months ago

      We’ve had the same recommendations in Germany for decades. Food and water for several days, ideally two weeks. When these recommendations were renewed a few years ago, people lost their shit, even though nothing changed.

      It’s perfectly reasonable for a government to recommend keeping some food and water.