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Do we actually need to get two weeks of food in?

433 replies

ducksterr · 08/09/2026 14:16

I’ve seen some stuff about the government advising us to get a few weeks of food in the cupboards but I can’t fathom how it’d come to that in the present or near future. If we do need it, can someone tell me why? Is there seriously a concern that we won’t have food, electricity or water between now and Christmas? Aibu to think that just won’t happen?

OP posts:
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wheelhouse1717 · 09/09/2026 20:01

arcticduck · 09/09/2026 19:56

You’d be pretty crazy to use a camping stove indoors..

Indeed.

wheelhouse1717 · 09/09/2026 20:00

InveterateWineDrinker · 09/09/2026 19:55

You know, don't you, that millions of Brits live in areas where these have all disappeared, driven out of business by the supermarkets?

If you don't, I strongly recommend you read Tescopoly.

Which town or city has no butchers, bakers, greengrocers or corner shops?

Mooselove · 09/09/2026 19:59

wheelhouse1717 · 09/09/2026 19:37

Has the recent Iranian conflict caused you to exist on tinned food from your stockpile? I haven’t noticed anything different in any shop I have been in.

People are either misremembering or misrepresenting what happened during Covid. The shops never ran out of food. They ran out of certain products, mainly pasta, and tinned and jarred products.

What sort of Russian cyber attack would close every single shop, takeaway, pub and restaurant? Maybe one on the National Grid, but even then the major supermarkets would have generators. If the generators were down we’d be in a national emergency.

Have you really not noticed any differences in shops at present? Most of our local supermarkets have quite a few empty shelves, lots of empty spaces where foods should be and quite low stock of items they do have

BiddyPopthe2nd · 09/09/2026 19:59

And if you can get a flask of hot water, you can “cook” couscous, microwave portions of rice or pasta or noodles, instant mash etc. Some options can be done with just hot water and a bit of time if you don’t have a stove or other proper cooking option.

Or open a tin of tuna, tin of sweetcorn, tin of olive and mix (not going overboard on olives), perhaps with a dash of chilli/tabasco, and heap into crackers. Something as simple as that can be great at the end of a rough day.

It’s about thinking through how to manage if you have to - before you actually have to.

Icecreamdelight · 09/09/2026 19:57

Mooselove · 08/09/2026 14:39

Living close to a supermarket is not enough if the supermarket runs out of food is it?

I have for over 40 years had a decent stock of food, toiletries, loo rolls, washing liquid etc.

When covid hit me and DH did not have to go to a shop for over a month which was great.

At present we probably have enough food to last a good 6 weeks, probably longer. In our freezer we have bread, milk, vegetables, fruit, home made meals such as curries, shepherds pie, chilli, soups, bean burgers etc. We also have quite a lot of pasta, rice, different types of beans, nuts etc. Tinned tomatoes, baked beans etc.

I just think it is sensible to have at least some stock of food

Can I come and live with you?

StarDolphins · 09/09/2026 19:56

I would stick up on food and fuel but not because of El Niño - more because I think the prices will rise and I’m frugal!

Weekmindedfool · 09/09/2026 19:56

wheelhouse1717 · 09/09/2026 19:37

Has the recent Iranian conflict caused you to exist on tinned food from your stockpile? I haven’t noticed anything different in any shop I have been in.

People are either misremembering or misrepresenting what happened during Covid. The shops never ran out of food. They ran out of certain products, mainly pasta, and tinned and jarred products.

What sort of Russian cyber attack would close every single shop, takeaway, pub and restaurant? Maybe one on the National Grid, but even then the major supermarkets would have generators. If the generators were down we’d be in a national emergency.

You are either really clueless or just deliberately obtuse.
Supermakets don’t have generators.
Covid, Iran war are examples to learn from illustrating just how close we came to running out of essential supplies. They highlight how our just in time economy isn’t set up to handle major shifts in supply or demand.
”We’d be in national emergency” Yes, that’s exactly what we are talking about.

arcticduck · 09/09/2026 19:56

wheelhouse1717 · 09/09/2026 19:45

Sounds great. The nation giving itself carbon monoxide poisoning from using camping stoves unlikely to be approved for indoor use indoors.

You’d be pretty crazy to use a camping stove indoors..

InveterateWineDrinker · 09/09/2026 19:55

wheelhouse1717 · 09/09/2026 19:42

Your supermarket had not one edible food? What about the butcher, baker, corner shops?

You know, don't you, that millions of Brits live in areas where these have all disappeared, driven out of business by the supermarkets?

If you don't, I strongly recommend you read Tescopoly.

arcticduck · 09/09/2026 19:54

MyrtlethePurpleTurtle · 09/09/2026 19:49

But then if it all goes to shit and you're without power, you're not going to be able to cook pasta etc - so does one then need just cold tomato soup and beans and tuna etc?

Of course? It’s food?

Badbadbunny · 09/09/2026 19:53

MyrtlethePurpleTurtle · 09/09/2026 19:49

But then if it all goes to shit and you're without power, you're not going to be able to cook pasta etc - so does one then need just cold tomato soup and beans and tuna etc?

If that's all you've got and the shops are closed, then yes, until the authorities get their act together to start rolling out food trucks (who themselves may struggle to get food supplies if the wholesalers etc are closed too!).

MyrtlethePurpleTurtle · 09/09/2026 19:49

ScottBakula · 08/09/2026 14:40

I think it's more because the supply may be disrupted due to storms that are expected.
I wouldn't go mad buying extra stuff but ( obviously only if you can afford it )
a few extra tins of
beans ,
tomatoes,
soup,
tuna,

meat ,
potatoes ,
carnation cream / long life milk

Instant noodles
Pita / wraps ( tend to keep longer and take up less space than a loaf)

The next size up than you'd normally buy of
Flour
Oil
Marg
butter
Lentils
Rice
Pasta
Porridge / cereal
Loo rolls
Toothpaste
Pain killers / dc over the counter meds
And make sure your 'scrip meds are ordered if possible .
All that said , if you can't afford/ don't want to I am fairly sure you'd be fine unless you habitually run your cupboards empty.

But then if it all goes to shit and you're without power, you're not going to be able to cook pasta etc - so does one then need just cold tomato soup and beans and tuna etc?

birdling · 09/09/2026 19:47

Mooselove · 08/09/2026 14:39

Living close to a supermarket is not enough if the supermarket runs out of food is it?

I have for over 40 years had a decent stock of food, toiletries, loo rolls, washing liquid etc.

When covid hit me and DH did not have to go to a shop for over a month which was great.

At present we probably have enough food to last a good 6 weeks, probably longer. In our freezer we have bread, milk, vegetables, fruit, home made meals such as curries, shepherds pie, chilli, soups, bean burgers etc. We also have quite a lot of pasta, rice, different types of beans, nuts etc. Tinned tomatoes, baked beans etc.

I just think it is sensible to have at least some stock of food

That sounds really good 👍
Just hope the power doesn't go...

HarrietSchulenberg · 09/09/2026 19:45

I still have storecupboard food from covid when I stocked up in case we got ill and couldn't leave the house to shop. Some of it's still in date and what isn't is still sealed/tinned. I can't keep prepping every time someone decides the shops might shut for a bit.

wheelhouse1717 · 09/09/2026 19:45

cinquanta · 09/09/2026 19:35

You can use a gas camping stove indoors. It’s no different to using a gas cooker.

That’s assuming there’s enough common sense to ensure adequate ventilation and to not leave it unattended.

Sounds great. The nation giving itself carbon monoxide poisoning from using camping stoves unlikely to be approved for indoor use indoors.

wheelhouse1717 · 09/09/2026 19:42

RedToothBrush · 09/09/2026 19:34

Definitely. Fresh food was not available in my local supermarket every day.

Your supermarket had not one edible food? What about the butcher, baker, corner shops?

wheelhouse1717 · 09/09/2026 19:41

RedToothBrush · 09/09/2026 19:32

About that.

There's the Great Orange One who could bring down the entire western world at the rate he's going.

If the entire western world collapses a few pot noodles won’t be much help.

JustMeSimply · 09/09/2026 19:40

Well we have everything from a burner for cooking and canisters to keeping bottles of water, large bags of pasta,jars of sauce, spare painkillers, first aid kit, tins of sausages/beans,potatoes, sleeping bags for warmth etc because we live in an area of the north east where a small storm will put out the power several times a year and we are always the last to get put back on. During winter the two shops didn't get deliveries of milk bread etc for several days. So we keep a good supply and I just rotate usage also a week's worth of meds spare to and all pet foods,breakfast bars. Each child and adult has a rucksack with certain things to carry depending on weight and age if also needed to leave house...had this system for years and and you would be surprised how many times it's come in useful. Luckily never had to leave house and hopefully that scenario won't ever happen

Badbadbunny · 09/09/2026 19:40

wheelhouse1717 · 09/09/2026 19:37

Has the recent Iranian conflict caused you to exist on tinned food from your stockpile? I haven’t noticed anything different in any shop I have been in.

People are either misremembering or misrepresenting what happened during Covid. The shops never ran out of food. They ran out of certain products, mainly pasta, and tinned and jarred products.

What sort of Russian cyber attack would close every single shop, takeaway, pub and restaurant? Maybe one on the National Grid, but even then the major supermarkets would have generators. If the generators were down we’d be in a national emergency.

Supermarkets don't have generators, well maybe the huge ones might. But none in our city had them during Storm Desmond, and we have Sainsbury, Tesco, Asda and Morrisons. All closed when the power went down and binned all their chilled and frozen perishables.

wheelhouse1717 · 09/09/2026 19:39

Badbadbunny · 09/09/2026 19:26

Which could very easily happen in the UK given the poor quality of our politicians!

You think the government seizing the means of production and distribution of food could very easily happen suddenly in the UK?

gamerchick · 09/09/2026 19:38

risingup · 08/09/2026 14:21

I'm not sure why we have to stock up on food to be honest. I'm 5 minutes from a supermarket which I kind of use as my pantry anyway so in an emergency I'd just pop down there and get stuff. Wouldn't store it all at home "just in case".

You were one of the ones who said 'ill just get a delivery' during lockdown Weren't you?

Washingupdone · 09/09/2026 19:38

Jerrybalanitis · 09/09/2026 16:18

When the war started in our region we did stock up a bit, we could literalpy see the missiles floating past our window some days. However, what emerged was a new found love of shit food. As soon as I buy corned beef, tinned hot dogs and spam, they get eaten. Suddenly everyone in my house eats like its WW2! I stocked up on bottled water and trip over it every single morning so might up my fluid intake. I do have powdered milk squirreled away for the worst scenario, its fortified and apparently can keep you alive for ages. I have a vague memory of Marvel from childhood, dark yellow and smelled like puke so hoping Trump pops his clogs before he does too much damage.

Edited

You didn’t have much warning to stock up or you might have seen the writing on the wall. However, now looking back, what would you have liked to have stocked up o?

wheelhouse1717 · 09/09/2026 19:37

Weekmindedfool · 09/09/2026 19:23

Yeah, you see the thing about disruptions is by their nature no one knows how long they are going to last. The gov doesn’t post a message saying “Please be advised, this latest Russian cyber attack is scheduled to last 3 days”. When things happen, people panic. They panic buy and strip the shelves and you don’t have petrol or bread or toilet roll for week. Honestly were you living in a cave during covid? During the recent Iran conflict?

Has the recent Iranian conflict caused you to exist on tinned food from your stockpile? I haven’t noticed anything different in any shop I have been in.

People are either misremembering or misrepresenting what happened during Covid. The shops never ran out of food. They ran out of certain products, mainly pasta, and tinned and jarred products.

What sort of Russian cyber attack would close every single shop, takeaway, pub and restaurant? Maybe one on the National Grid, but even then the major supermarkets would have generators. If the generators were down we’d be in a national emergency.

cinquanta · 09/09/2026 19:35

wheelhouse1717 · 09/09/2026 19:24

Or a garden for the barbecue and camping stove.

You can use a gas camping stove indoors. It’s no different to using a gas cooker.

That’s assuming there’s enough common sense to ensure adequate ventilation and to not leave it unattended.

RedToothBrush · 09/09/2026 19:34

Mooselove · 09/09/2026 19:28

That was not the experience of lots of my neighbours and friends so it presumably varied across the country

Definitely. Fresh food was not available in my local supermarket every day.

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