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Original poster

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 20:56

RedToothBrush · 09/09/2026 20:52

What makes you think everyone lives in a town or city? You are making arguments for the sake of arguing and a lot of of them are completely tone deaf.

The current news cycle reads like Jan 2020 right now. May you live in interesting times as the saying goes...

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Because I entirely understand the need for rural villagers to have emergency supplies.

savemysleep · 09/09/2026 20:57

Oioiqueen · 09/09/2026 20:17

The lack of understanding from people in the UK to how supply chains work is very scary.

If a cyber attack takes out our port computer systems we are screwed. You can't get containers off a ship if they aren't custom cleared or having an in / out port vehicle system it's all electronic same as the Euro Tunnel. If bad weather from El Nino forces ships to divert to Europe (as regularly happens in winter) our ports are screwed. We import so much of our food a couple of weeks of food not getting in will bring the UK to its knees. It's not scaremongering it's actual reality to how precarious our ability to eat and survive is. It takes approx 3 weeks depending on the service to get a container ship from Asia to the UK, building back up any supplies we've lost could take months.

If we start getting into weeks of disruption surely prescription medicines will become a massive issue as many people will only have a weeks extra?

wheelhouse1717 · 09/09/2026 20:58

CandidHedgehog · 09/09/2026 20:49

No, as I said, that includes food, water, radio, camping stove etc.

Having said that, I’m sure I do have several hundred pounds of food in my house when you take into account freezer food etc, I just don’t assume it will all survive a lengthy power cut.

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I see. I suppose if you can afford it and it gives you peace of mind, why not.

CandidHedgehog · 09/09/2026 20:58

savemysleep · 09/09/2026 20:53

Surely if there is no finish date everyone will panic including the ones who took the government advice re a few days to food & water.

How long do you think it will take the government to get emergency supplies in place? Won’t it depend on what the emergency is?

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Absolutely. But I’m a relatively small woman living on my own. If it comes to that (and I fully accept it probably won’t), I’m going to want a firmly locked door between myself and people panicking over food. If there’s a multi month disaster, I’ve probably had it. If whatever problem is cleared up in a week, I will be OK.

I see stocking up as insurance. I hope not to need it but it’s easy and affordable to put in place in case I do.

catmothertes1 · 09/09/2026 21:14

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".

In case of a major power cut,the supermarket will be shut.

concertinacornflake · 09/09/2026 21:26

wheelhouse1717 · 09/09/2026 20:32

I thought we only needed a few days of food stockpiled? Which people could get from the shops.

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I think you're very funny, and I applaud your ability to keep saying such nonsensical things!

I've come round to your way of thinking tbh, people will definitely be able to stock up from the empty shop that's had no deliveries.

BiddyPopthe2nd · 09/09/2026 21:28

wheelhouse1717 · 09/09/2026 20:58

I see. I suppose if you can afford it and it gives you peace of mind, why not.

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I was watching a British YouTuber in the past few days addressing this very topic, and for the average price of a takeaway delivery meal, (£29.50), he did a shop for a supply of emergency food and got a good range of things to ensure breakfasts and dinners for a good couple of weeks. Just going through the offers and regular priced items in..I think it was Asda.

So it doesn’t take a huge fortune to put together a few spares. And the best “stores” are shelf stable versions of food that you/your family will eat normally, and just rotate older ones through your normal groceries and replace the older ones used up in new grocery shopping.

concertinacornflake · 09/09/2026 21:28

savemysleep · 09/09/2026 20:57

If we start getting into weeks of disruption surely prescription medicines will become a massive issue as many people will only have a weeks extra?

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Yes this is a big concern. I don't know what is kept in stock for emergencies? Presumably there is some international cooperation on this, amongst allies.

wheelhouse1717 · 09/09/2026 21:31

concertinacornflake · 09/09/2026 21:26

I think you're very funny, and I applaud your ability to keep saying such nonsensical things!

I've come round to your way of thinking tbh, people will definitely be able to stock up from the empty shop that's had no deliveries.

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The shop will be empty because people have bought the food.

Rudicoolcat · 09/09/2026 21:38

MellowSubmarine · 08/09/2026 14:25

I think there’s two stories getting conflated.

The actual Gov advice mentions a couple of days of food for emergencies.
Then there are also the stories around supply chain disruption from El Niño. But the Gov is not suggesting we get weeks of food in now to protect against supply issues later.

@MellowSubmarine 👍🏼

Living remotely, stocking up on a few extras for the pantry ahead of winter is just plain old common sense. Living anywhere else, well it's just sensible surely...

YvieYfronts · 09/09/2026 21:38

Genuine question, if I were to stock up, would it be best to choose items that can be eaten without having to be heated and if so, what could that be other than baked beans?

godmum56 · 09/09/2026 21:44

ok bored now. Do it, don't do it. No a stock of non perishables won't put off the end of days but having two or three days of supplies in, maybe some bottled water, candles or wind up lights, maybe a wind up radio, plus a way to make a hot drink just might make you more comfortable while you wait out a long power cut, flooded roads or a similar minor crisis. Similarly a simple go bag might save you from being like the lady in Whaley Bridge who had to leave her house without so much as a spare pair of knickers.

savemysleep · 09/09/2026 21:45

YvieYfronts · 09/09/2026 21:38

Genuine question, if I were to stock up, would it be best to choose items that can be eaten without having to be heated and if so, what could that be other than baked beans?

tinned soup, tinned sweetcorn, tinned fruit?

savemysleep · 09/09/2026 21:46

concertinacornflake · 09/09/2026 21:28

Yes this is a big concern. I don't know what is kept in stock for emergencies? Presumably there is some international cooperation on this, amongst allies.

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No idea, but considering how many millions take daily meds I think it’s a huge issue.

wheelhouse1717 · 09/09/2026 21:47

YvieYfronts · 09/09/2026 21:38

Genuine question, if I were to stock up, would it be best to choose items that can be eaten without having to be heated and if so, what could that be other than baked beans?

Freeze a loaf or wraps and then you could make sandwiches from tuna, Pek, corned beef, salmon?

NoisyHiker · 09/09/2026 21:48

Isn't bottled water full of billions of microplastics?

whatcanthematterbe81 · 09/09/2026 21:49

savemysleep · 08/09/2026 16:42

For a few days though does it actually matter if the meals are rubbish?

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exactly. If I was desperate, I would be eating cold beans out of the tin. (As long as the aliens haven’t stolen my tin opener)

whatcanthematterbe81 · 09/09/2026 21:51

wheelhouse1717 · 09/09/2026 21:31

The shop will be empty because people have bought the food.

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No shit

godmum56 · 09/09/2026 21:52

YvieYfronts · 09/09/2026 21:38

Genuine question, if I were to stock up, would it be best to choose items that can be eaten without having to be heated and if so, what could that be other than baked beans?

Chick peas, spaghetti, canned fish, canned meat, biscuits, crackers, sweets and chocolate, snack food long date milk drink cartons, and that's just off the top if my head. its up to you if you want to get a camping stove then you can, at very least you can make a hot drink, pot noodles, porridge pots or similar. For a few days, balanced diet doesn't matter, bulk and tasty is more important. Of course if you have allergies or are vegan or vegetarian then you will need to make your choices around those things.

concertinacornflake · 09/09/2026 21:54

YvieYfronts · 09/09/2026 21:38

Genuine question, if I were to stock up, would it be best to choose items that can be eaten without having to be heated and if so, what could that be other than baked beans?

The standard advice is tinned fruit/veg/pulses/fish/meat, dry things like crackers, biscuits, nuts, seeds, dried fruit, cereal/oats, longlife/powdered milk.

savemysleep · 09/09/2026 21:55

whatcanthematterbe81 · 09/09/2026 21:49

exactly. If I was desperate, I would be eating cold beans out of the tin. (As long as the aliens haven’t stolen my tin opener)

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I’m fine with cereal with or without milk, tinned fish & crisps!

concertinacornflake · 09/09/2026 21:56

NoisyHiker · 09/09/2026 21:48

Isn't bottled water full of billions of microplastics?

Tough times = tough choices!!!

Rudicoolcat · 09/09/2026 22:01

Just looked at the date at the bottom of a can of corned beef (left over purchase for a camping trip) and it's January 2031!! I'll be okay then... 😂

Calasa · 09/09/2026 22:17

The shops carry three days worth of goods. That’s it. And that’s assuming they are open. .
the report just published confirms the UK’s resilience planning is woefully inadequate and puts us at risk.

godmum56 · 09/09/2026 22:20

wheelhouse1717 · 09/09/2026 21:47

Freeze a loaf or wraps and then you could make sandwiches from tuna, Pek, corned beef, salmon?

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For planning purposes, I would be assuming power cuts. Some of the wraps and so on have decent long dates but weeks to months so need rotating.

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