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AIBU?

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Original poster

I am so fed up of a lack of food in shops.

881 replies

OutofEverything · 23/02/2023 00:51

This has been going on for a few years but is only getting worse. I had to go to 3 supermarkets before I found some eggs. No lettuce at all, a few packs of salad tomatoes available in one supermarket, loads of empty spaces in the fruit and veg section, and in ASDA even the freezers had loads of empty spaces.

Before anyone says yes I know we will not starve, there is enough actual food. But a visit to a supermarket now is a lottery about what will be available and what is missing. And more and more I am having to visit multiple shops to get absolute basics.

OP posts:
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20
SerendipityJane · 25/02/2023 09:50

ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 25/02/2023 09:42

But there’s not been an issue with either shop at all. Not just today.

LOL. Well I'm off to Sainsbos later. I can pretty much predict what they won't have in. Mainly because they've been flaky on those items for years.

I think I said in this thread it's been years since I could get everything in a single shop.

So to my (admittedly very small) mind, whatever is happening now is happening on top of that. Much as very heavy rain will show the leaks in your roof in a way a light shower won't.

Modern life is a complex mix of constants and variables (as an article I read recently noted). It's hard to conceive that changing a small variable somewhere far away can affect big things nearby.

SoShallINever · 25/02/2023 09:59

I live rurally and see so many farms that come to market turned into luxury holiday developments or just bought up by people who live in cities.
I can't blame the farmers for selling up, it must be so much easier than worrying about what Tesco will pay for your milk this year, or being dependent on the (increasingly erratic) weather for your crops.

Snugglepiggy · 25/02/2023 10:03

There are many reasons for shortages.Apparently leeks are the next crop affected and it is solely due to last years summer heat and drought meaning a lot of crops failed to grow early on.In Sainsburys yesterday there was less choice of tomatoes but still some. Then I watched the news reports from Ukraine whilst unpacking my bags and that put it in perspective.

BulldogSpirit · 25/02/2023 10:14

So you can get all the fruit and veg your heart desires in the EU if you pay through the nose.

You can get all fruit and veg in the UK (except tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers are limited/missing in some areas) at reasonable prices.

You can get tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers in the UK if you pay through the nose - unless your usual Sainsburys/Tesco/Asda has them in stock.

Is this the issue in a nutshell?

MarshaBradyo · 25/02/2023 10:30

BulldogSpirit · 25/02/2023 10:14

So you can get all the fruit and veg your heart desires in the EU if you pay through the nose.

You can get all fruit and veg in the UK (except tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers are limited/missing in some areas) at reasonable prices.

You can get tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers in the UK if you pay through the nose - unless your usual Sainsburys/Tesco/Asda has them in stock.

Is this the issue in a nutshell?

Yep. I don’t actually think the supermarkets have acted badly. They’ve kept prices lower and put limits on to stop bulk buying from trade

Commah · 25/02/2023 10:34

This is life from now on unfortunately. The days of plenty are over. No more easy access to food, and it’s only going to get worse.

Choconut · 25/02/2023 10:40

I think it's only going to get worse. Just saw on the BBC that farmers in Kent are digging up all their apple trees because the cost and what supermarkets will pay make it financially unviable. Cost have gone up hugely while what the supermarkets will pay has gone up by 0.08% year on year.

Our local supermarket has very little in the fruit and veg aisles at the moment. We often have salad for lunch as it's quick and easy but not any more it seems.

Greatly · 25/02/2023 10:41

Commah · 25/02/2023 10:34

This is life from now on unfortunately. The days of plenty are over. No more easy access to food, and it’s only going to get worse.

The drama!

Greatly · 25/02/2023 10:50

Commah · 25/02/2023 10:34

This is life from now on unfortunately. The days of plenty are over. No more easy access to food, and it’s only going to get worse.

All this because you couldn't buy cherry tomatoes.

All the government has to do is support farmers fully and stop being in thrall to the supermarkets and we'll be rolling in food.

ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 25/02/2023 11:06

Commah · 25/02/2023 10:34

This is life from now on unfortunately. The days of plenty are over. No more easy access to food, and it’s only going to get worse.

Um….. Ok🤨😂

Emotionalsupportviper · 25/02/2023 11:39

ChungusBoi · 24/02/2023 23:13

Brexit makes imports harder because there are fewer HGV drivers willing to drive in the UK, more red tape, more delays, and it’s a highly perishable product that loses value as it loses freshness.

This ⬆

MintJulia · 25/02/2023 11:40

Commah · 25/02/2023 10:34

This is life from now on unfortunately. The days of plenty are over. No more easy access to food, and it’s only going to get worse.

Blimey @commah maybe try to keep this in proportion.

Firstly, I've just been to Tesco and bought cherry tomatoes, peppers and cucumber.
Secondly, it's one bout of bad weather in the Med, I'm fairly sure not the end of the world.
Thirdly, the shops are full of other foods, including tinned tomatoes and peppers in oil. No-one will starve. And it's perfectly possible to make a salad without tomatoes.

If you are genuinely that worried, buy some compost and grow some tomato plants in a warm corner against some brickwork. They are very easy. Take back control !

RafaistheKingofClay · 25/02/2023 11:50

Greatly · 25/02/2023 10:50

All this because you couldn't buy cherry tomatoes.

All the government has to do is support farmers fully and stop being in thrall to the supermarkets and we'll be rolling in food.

Show quote history

We haven’t been self sufficient for at least 400 years. Seriously doubt it’s that simple.

Mira28 · 25/02/2023 13:24

ropeycorn · 24/02/2023 21:54

We need to keep hammering this home. Brexit the gift that keeps on taking.

Show quote history

But several people on this thread have explained how it’s not (just) Brexit?

Mira28 · 25/02/2023 13:30

Commah · 25/02/2023 10:34

This is life from now on unfortunately. The days of plenty are over. No more easy access to food, and it’s only going to get worse.

„No more easy access to food“? Are you being serious?

Greatly · 25/02/2023 13:33

Mira28 · 25/02/2023 13:30

„No more easy access to food“? Are you being serious?

Show quote history

I know! 😅😅

ImAvingOops · 25/02/2023 13:35

Supermarkets could pay suppliers properly for a start. And if the govt pulls its finger out and starts processing the applications from people on the UK who want to be HGV drivers, pay them appropriately and sort out the red tape at ports (they've had long enough to do this ), then this problem should be temporary.
As usual though, govt and big business want to do everything on the cheap. I think people are willing to pay more so long as the money is going to producers and not just into supermarket profits.
And I do think some supermarkets are profiteering from this col crisis, just as energy companies are.

SerendipityJane · 25/02/2023 14:17

"If ifs and buts were fruit and nuts ...."

RafaistheKingofClay · 25/02/2023 15:10

The government are not going to sort out the red tape at ports because some very vocal people would start shouting about brexit in name only. If they had any intention of doing it they wouldn’t still be fighting over the NI protocol.

Clavinova · 25/02/2023 15:18

Ireland is awash with salad goods

Apparently not:

25 February 2023
Cold weather in Spain and Morocco has caused problems with the supply of tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers across Europe.
An Irish Independent survey of leading supermarkets this week revealed that a number are currently low on stock or without these items.

www.independent.ie/irish-news/tomato-shortage-could-last-until-may-due-to-high-energy-costs-irish-shoppers-warned-42358919.html

Rationing move introduced as tomato shortage impacts Irish supermarkets.
Customers in some stores are limited to just two packs of peppers or tomatoes per person due to a shortage caused by poor weather in Spain.

www.irishexaminer.com/food/arid-41079614.html

Clavinova · 25/02/2023 15:19

www.irishexaminer.com/food/arid-41079614.html

SerendipityJane · 25/02/2023 15:19

The government are not going to sort out the red tape at ports because some very vocal people would start shouting about brexit in name only.

I think at this stage of the game the terrible reality is the government is actually unable to sort out the red tape, even if they (and the public) wanted to. Not only does it not have the capability. It lacks the ability to create the capability. The only way to psychically accept the situation is to teach yourself to not give a fuck about the country. Which is of course a default Tory setting. It's us plebs who do care that struggle with the fact that some people see a thread about 800,000 children going hungry as a challenge to make it a round million. And not in an ironic way.

SerendipityJane · 25/02/2023 15:20

<ghostbusters reference>

Argh ! I just got pasted !

beguilingeyes · 25/02/2023 15:48

The Farmers Union is blaming at least some of it on Brexit , because we didn't used to source so much from Morocco and now we're having to go further afield for our food.
www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/uk-news/warning-fruit-vegetable-shortages-could-26330609?int_source=amp_continue_reading&int_medium=amp&int_campaign=continue_reading_button#amp-readmore-target

Natsku · 25/02/2023 15:58

Saw a picture from my friend from her local tesco - the entire veg section is empty, nothing there at all!