Extreme weather may be changing the way we need to shop. Earlier this month, the UK government urged people to add a few more long-life products into their food basket – just in case the food supply chain is interrupted. Environment Secretary Dame Angela Eagle told the Guardian the powerful natural climate phenomenon El Niño would lead to “more extreme storms in this country”. Climate change, along with cyber-attacks, disease outbreaks and conflicts can all put a strain on the process that eventually gets food into our shops and homes.
Prof Richard Wilding, an expert in supply chain strategy, tells me not to be “overly worried” as global shipping professionals are adapting all the time but to be prepared to buy different products if needed. “Things that were in supermarkets and seen as relatively abundant may all of a sudden be in shortage,” he adds. So how easy is it to stock up and what are the things to avoid? Senior nutrition scientist Dr Sammie Gill, from British Nutrition Foundation, says you should prioritise certain food groups: Complex carbohydrates such as wheat biscuits, wholegrain cereals, crackers and breads plus oats, rice and pasta Proteins such as canned chickpeas, lentils, kidney beans, unsalted nuts, peanut butter and canned oily fish such as tuna, mackerel and sardines Rebecca McManamon, a consultant dietitian, lists the following essentials: Tinned fruit as you can drink its juice for added fluids, vitamins and fibre Pickled foods such as vegetables and eggs Both experts also recommend keeping long-life milk found in the non-refridgerated aisle for protein, calcium and as a source of fluid Gill says look out for salt and sugar content when buying tinned items: Avoid items tinned in brine or syrups, water is the healthiest option Avoid instant noodles and tinned soup due to high salt content Avoid breakfast cereals and snack bars with added sugars and limited nutrients Choose tinned fish over tinned meats such as sausages, hot dogs or corned beef as they are often processed and high in salt and saturated fat Limit sweet treats such as biscuits and chocolates as they have a high sugar content And what about making the essentials taste nice?
McManamon says stock up on nuts as a sweet alternative but be aware that they may have a shorter shelf life. She also recommends keeping dried herbs, spices and salt available as, she says, tinned food can be slightly bland. You should aim to take in about 1,500-2,500ml of fluid a day, whatever the weather, says McManamon. This can obviously come from bottled water, but also from what she describes as fluid rich tinned foods if supplies are short.
For those worried about whether tinned food is as nutritious as fresh food, Dr Gill says it absolutely can be used as part of a healthy diet. “There is little difference nutritionally between canned and fresh food in terms of macronutrients, like carbohydrates, protein, fats, and fibre, as well as fat-soluble vitamins, like vitamin A and E, and minerals,” she says. It may not be as good for other vitamins, such as B and C, because the canning process has been found to decrease vitamin levels, but Gill offers assurances that these foods can still be a “useful source” of vitamins. Stock up on food to prepare for extreme weather, minister says Public to be told how to prepare for cyber-attack and weather emergencies
