Potatoes, milk and chicken among foods UK could see shortages of as a result of Iran war

With the world’s food supply chain under pressure from the war in Iran, experts are warning shoppers they could soon see shortages and high prices in British supermarkets.

Food transportation and farm costs have increased as a result of the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which traps most of the world’s fuel and fertilizer resources in the Gulf.

Sir Keir Starmer admitted people may have to change their shopping habits as a result, and his principal secretary, Darren Jones, said the UK faces higher prices for goods, including food, for at least eight months after the end of the war in Iran.

Food supply chains expert Professor Chris Elliott said: “There is now real and serious concern in many parts of the world about the downstream impacts of the Strait of Hormuz in terms of price, costs and food availability.

“The best estimate is that food inflation will reach 10 percent by the end of this year, which is quite scary for many consumers.”

Independent It spoke to experts to find out which food items would be affected in British supermarkets.

fruits and vegetables

Fresh produce supply is likely to suffer some of the largest and most long-term impacts.

Experts say vegetables such as potatoes, cucumbers, tomatoes and peppers, as well as fruits such as grapes and strawberries, are among the products facing shortages or high prices.

The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has resulted in an increase in the costs of both fertilizer and fuel for British farmers’ machinery.

Associate Professor of Cultural Management at the University of Sunderland. Derek Watson said: “When you don’t get product throughput, this will eventually manifest itself in your products not being delivered to supermarkets.”

According to Mr Elliott, some farmers have decided not to plant crops this year because they do not expect to get their money back.

“I think the consequences will be six months to 12 months from now – more shortages, more price increases, all of which will come from fertilizer-related issues.”

He said that vegetables and fruits grown in greenhouses, which require high amounts of electricity and gas, will also be greatly affected by high energy prices.

“This time of year it’s fresh produce and seasonal things like lettuce and tomatoes that we start to enjoy more.”

Experts say Britons may also see supply shortages or price increases for meat products, including chicken and pork, and dairy products.

Mr Watson said these products could be affected by a lack of carbon dioxide, which is used in the packaging of meat products to extend their shelf life.

A government document that was first leaked TimesHe warned that CO2 supplies could fall to only 18 percent of current levels.

CO2 is also used to slaughter animals and is important for refrigeration systems that cool products, further threatening famine.

“The biggest impact for meat and dairy will be the cost of refrigeration. It will cost a lot more to run refrigerators. It will cost more to transport refrigerated trucks across the country,” Mr Elliott said.

“Logistics is more expensive, so the energy impacts will likely also cause a noticeable increase in the cost of meat and dairy.”

The National Farmers Union predicts the price of milk could rise in the next three to six months.

Toilet paper

Mr Watson said fears of food shortages and higher prices could lead to people panic-buying, as happened during the Covid outbreak.

“There are a lot of smart consumers out there and they’ve seen this before with Covid. As soon as they see prices start to rise, which they are now, they’ll start buying in bulk.”

“Products like toilet rolls are disappearing, people are buying bread, but these products will become outdated very quickly.

“You’ll see people stocking up on chicken, pork, drinks like gin and tonics, etc.”