How long will the food madness go on for?

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I completely understand that once it became clear that restrictions and isolation are going to be necessary, people felt the need to stock up with enough food for a few weeks. I'm not going to criticise people for that, it's a normal survival instinct.

I did though, think that after the initial "panic", things would return to normal quite quickly.

I usually have a fairly well stocked store cupboard and was ill last week so I haven't been to a supermarket for two weeks. Just picked up a few fresh bits at the convienice store. I was rather optimistically hoping to do my usual weekly shop this week!

The food madness will go on for as long as people continue to be selfish bastards and stockpile.
There will be no crisis if people calm down and just buy what they need.
However, given the nature of most people this isn't going to happen.
I think there needs to be security in all shops stopping people buying more than is absolutely necessary.

There would NOT be Any shortages at all IF people would act and shop normally.

No but at the same time we are told not to be out and about unless we have to. And so as a result people will buy more since they are hoping to avoid being out and about at the shop for a the next couple of weeks. plus all over 70s and pregnant and vulnerable people have been told to isolate for 12 weeks and not leave the house at all. They need food to see them through.

Some people are selfish and just grabbing what they can. Some people are trying to do the right thing and remove themselves from the problem but that means being stocked up so that you can then stay at home.

I did my usual weekly shop in Aldi this morning (pretty early, admittedly). The only things I noticed were unavailable were flour (of any kind) and paracetamol. Other shelves were mostly full. Fresh food was as plentiful as normal.There was even a fair bit of loo roll. There were signs up about restrictions on numbers of the same product, but otherwise everything was pretty normal. Everyone seemed perfectly calm and sensible, cheerful checkout staff etc.
The restrictions on multiple purchases is good and will slow down the emptying of the shelves. The more people go in and see the shelves aren't empty and that stocks are being replenished, the less they will panic buy.

Just had a message now from Tesco cancelling my delivery 😩

I've got an online order coming tomorrow with stuff for my parents and brother, all of whom have to isolate and I don't have a car so can't get many places and nothing about locally. I doubt much of it will turn up, it's only enough for a week and not tins etc so here's hoping :(

I don't know how people can buy more than needed and not feel awful about it. Until yesterday I had around 20 ml of hand sanitiser in my little bottle, happened to be in the shop as they were replenishing and picked up two. This morning, I returned to the shop and handed one back because I felt guilty. Sometimes I wish I was wired differently! But I can never stop feeling bad, I cannot do it.

Would people stop blaming the preppers?

Aside from buying milk, bread, fresh fruit, fresh meat and veg I have pretty much bought nothing else for the past two weeks. I am leaving more core staples for everyone else who isn’t in my position. That’s even though I now have 5 people in my house who need feeding 3 meals a day. Previously all 5 were eating lunch out - school/ work and possibly eating out for dinner too/ eating supper at a friends house.

So people naturally need more than they normally would, because of social distancing.

The problem is the people who are daily going out and getting what they can. So that they are ok. Or buying more because they can and just Incase.

It’s just getting worse and worse around here!

What I find frustrating is that every single person I talk to and all comments online are condemning panic buying but so many must be doing it behind the scenes!

I'm sorry about the preppers comment xx but when some have upgraded their freezers or purchased 'in addition to' and filled it up "just in time" or have a "just in case" stash that is not being used then come on...

Fair enough. But my stash is being used. Aside from the fresh items I am trying to keep in stock (basically force feeding as much fresh fruit and vegetables into all of us as possible).

And based on a lot of trolleys I saw this week, I’m not alone. My local supermarket (until Monday when it was the worse I had seen it), everyone was shopping respectfully and leaving plenty for others. I popped in again on weds and it was already a lot calmer.

I think (based on these threads), there are regional variances in what is happening.

@HonestlyWillTheRsinEverStop ah really? I didn’t realise there may actually be a shortage, I thought people were just going crazy with eggs!

Also didn’t realise you could freeze them @unchienandalusia - do they not crack?

Sorry seem to be developing an egg obsession...

We’re self isolating because I had a sore throat, burning chest thing that felt exactly like the start of the flu that knocked me out in December, but 5 days in it’s turned into nothing, just a bit of a sore throat. I always thought I had a well stocked pantry for a small London flat, but I’ve started rationing food & DH & are eating very little to conserve food. We’re in the beige banquet stage now.
There’s no point asking someone to go to the shops for us because there is literally nothing there.
I suspect by next week DH will have to go out in a mask to get some sort of food.

I have no idea, my weekly shopping looks something like this on my bank statement

Tesco - £6.32
Lidl - £1.70
Asda - £9.18
Aldi - £4.56
The Range - £5.44
Sainsbury’s - 8.00
Asda - 1.40
Morrison’s - 11.23

We are definitely rationing food. When my student children return home and another who’s just escaped a lockdown country - hoping to go back, as she has her job to go back to - I don’t know how we will manage.

I just dont understand it....shelves completely empty of everything today.
In Germany, Italy, Spain and all that there have been no panic buying!

My friend was saying how the local Sainsbury's over 70's happy hour yesterday morning was absolute carnage with the freshly stocked shelves all but depleted in time for usual opening. One chap thought because he was going to be self isolating for the next 12 weeks, that he was within his rights to attempt to buy a whole box - containing 24 large packets - of pasta. He was obviously stopped.

Where I live a couple of companies that used to supply the catering industry are now opening up for the general public as restaurants, cafes etc close. Might be worth looking into for others who are struggling with the supermarkets.

Aldi and Waitrose quiet this morning. We got toilet rolls in Waitrose ( 2 packs of 9 allowed).
Wine in Aldi plus cheese/continental meats and yoghurts.

They need to bring back rationing.

Also, don't blame the preppers, they bought their stuff years ago. People who bought in the last few weeks are either the panic buyers or people who normally shop every day or every few days who now bought for two weeks in case of isolation.

I live near (well 40 minute drive) an egg farm. They sell their eggs there. If you have a car it might be worth googling which farmshops are near you.

Make that a 20 minute drive. Was a typo

In my local high street there was a couple selling pasta for £7 a pack today and people were actually buying it!

It’s nuts and I’m getting really fed up with it. I went to Tesco after the school run this morning to try and do my normal weekly shop. I couldn’t get so many basics: chicken breasts, mince, pasta, pasta sauces, tinned tomatoes, beans, teabags. I haven’t stockpiled anything, I’m keeping my meal planning and shopping habits the same as usual.
People need to get a grip.

Can't find any milk anywhere - are people stockpiling that?? Freezing it??

I went to my local big Sainsbury’s yesterday morning, couldn’t get half of my shopping list. Went back again this morning at the same time, they’d restocked a lot and was able to pick up most things. I’ll just keep going back until I’ve got everything.