‘Immediate national priority’: ministers accused of complacency over UK food supply
Summary
UK ministers have been criticized for not acting quickly enough to protect food supplies from risks like fuel shortages, cyber attacks, and extreme weather. The Cold Chain Federation, a group representing companies that store and transport chilled and frozen food, warns the UK’s food system needs urgent attention to avoid shortages and supply problems.Key Facts
- The Cold Chain Federation (CCF) says risk to UK food supply is very high due to multiple threats.
- Britain imports over a third of its food, mainly through four ports, making it vulnerable to disruptions.
- Problems like fuel shortages, border delays, cyber attacks, and extreme weather could stop food from reaching stores.
- Cold storage sites and food transport are critical because many foods and medicines need to be kept chilled or frozen.
- UK cold storage and transport companies have faced repeated cyber attack attempts recently.
- The government has not yet classified cold stores and transport hubs as critical infrastructure, which could protect them better in crises.
- In early 2023, poor weather in Europe and high energy costs caused shortages of some fresh produce like tomatoes and cucumbers.
- The CCF suggests workers in cold storage and transport should be given essential worker status permanently to strengthen the food system.
Read the Full Article
This is a fact-based summary from The Actual News. Click below to read the complete story directly from the original source.