What you should actually buy to prepare for an emergency as Brits given 'stock up' warning
No - the end of the world isn't upon us just yet, but Brits have been urged to stock up on certain items over food supply chain fears.
Mainly due to concerns over major weather events, certain foods could be at risk, which could affect imports around the world, including to the UK.
The Government previously urged people to add more long-life products to their baskets when out shopping.
Environment Secretary Dame Angela Eagle told the Guardian the powerful natural climate phenomenon of El Niño will lead to 'more extreme storms in this country'.
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Severe impacts will also likely be felt in countries which export key food staples to the UK.
The National Audit Office (NAO) warned Britain's food supply chain is among those at risk given the growing threat of cyber-attacks and the climate crisis.
Currently around 50 percent of the food in the UK is imported, including 80 percent of fruit and veg.
The disruptions from El Niño could send food prices soaring and be responsible for leaving vulnerable people struggling to buy foods.
What items should people buy?
Senior nutrition scientist Dr Sammie Gill, from the British Nutrition Foundation, told the BBC that certain food groups should be prioritised.
He told the broadcaster that complex carbohydrates such as wheat biscuits, wholegrain cereals, crackers and breads, plus oats, rice and pasta are top of the list, as well as proteins like canned chickpeas, lentils, kidney beans, unsalted nuts, peanut butter and canned oily fish such as tuna, mackerel and sardines. People are reminded to ensure they have tin openers for these items.
Key risks include to rice from multiple key producers such as India, Thailand and Vietnam.
Wheat and grains will also be hit due to risk of droughts in Australia and the USA, leading to reduced exports. And tropical commodities such as coffee and cocoa are particularly vulnerable.
Because of this, dietitians also suggested tinned fruits, pickled foods and long-life milk, as well as up to 3l of bottled drinking water per person per day, along with extra for sanitation purposes.
"We need to take El Niño seriously"
El Niño occurs when ocean temperatures in the central and eastern tropical Pacific become unusually warm, disrupting the wider climate.
A 'significant El Niño' is likely to occur towards the end of 2026, with some forecasts predicting the strongest event on record, the UK Government said.
It is expected to be the most intense in decades, could bring periods of extreme cold and heat, as well as dangerous droughts and torrential rainfall in different parts of the world - including countries the UK relies on for its food supply.
For the tropics, southern Africa and north-east Australia can be at heightened risk of drought. While north-western Europe (including the UK) is likely to experience wetter and stormier conditions this coming autumn and early winter, according to the Met Office.
Dame Angela said: "We're about to experience probably the largest El Niño that has ever been seen, and that will lead to drier summers, wetter winters, with more extreme storms in this country.
"It will do a lot more damage in Asia with flooding, and therefore I think that we need to take it seriously.
"If you've got a store of a bit of food that can keep you going for a while before the emergency services can get to you, you're going to be a lot better off than if you haven't.
"So some of it is that kind of preparation for just being a bit more resilient."
The NAO said ministers should encourage households to prepare for supply chain disruptions and learn from the approaches taken by other countries.
Topics: Weather, El Niño, Shopping, World News
James Holt