British households have been urged to stock up on food as a potentially record-breaking El Niño develops in the Pacific, threatening extreme weather and disrupting food supplies.
Environment Secretary Dame Angela Eagle warned the phenomenon could bring drier summers, wetter winters and more severe storms to Britain, while causing devastating floods in parts of Asia.
Her warning followed a National Audit Office (NAO) report which said the UK’s food supply chain faces growing risks from extreme weather, cyber-attacks, disease outbreaks and climate change.
The NAO said the government relies too heavily on private companies to manage disruptions and urged ministers to encourage households to prepare for shortages.
Phil Pluck, chief executive of the Cold Chain Federation, said Britain was “pretty close to crisis”, citing cyber-attacks, global shipping disruption and the threat of pandemics.
The government plans to issue guidance later this year on “small but important steps” households can take to prepare for food and water shortages.
