Shame on you, Britain tells coronavirus panic-buyers

By Sarah Young and James Davey

 

A woman looks at a pile of Baked Beans on a half empty food aisle inside a Tesco supermarket amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Manchester, Britain, March 21, 2020. REUTERS/Phil Noble

 

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain on Saturday told people who were panic-buying and hoarding food due to the coronavirus outbreak to calm down, pointing to a video on social media showing an exhausted nurse driven to tears by finding shelves bare after her shift.

 

Shoppers have been emptying the shelves in many supermarkets over the past week, with some wrestling over toilet roll and others hoarding everything from pasta to frozen peas as the government told people to stay home and avoid contact.

 

A billion pounds ($1.2 billion) of extra food have been squirreled away over the past three weeks, putting massive pressure on supermarkets, environment and food minister George Eustice said.

 

At a news briefing, he urged people to "be responsible when you shop and think of others".

 

"There is more than enough food to go round and our food supply chain is able to expand production to cope with increased demand," he said.

 

"Buying more than you need means that others may be left without, and it is making life more difficult for those front-line workers such as our doctors and nurses and NHS (National Health Service) support staff."

 

A NURSE'S TEARS

 

Despite such appeals, not least from Prime Minister Boris Johnson and major supermarkets, shelves of meat, pasta, tinned goods and toilet roll were empty on Saturday in some London supermarkets. Some had brought in extra guards and set up special queuing zones.

 

The government has set aside rules restricting deliveries to supermarkets to help stores cope with increased demand.

 

It has also set aside competition rules so that supermarkets can share staff and delivery vehicles and coordinate opening times to ensure that every part of the UK is properly supplied.

 

The video posted by the critical care nurse has been shown on BBC national news.

 

"Frankly we should all be ashamed that that has to happen," said NHS medical director Stephen Powis. "It's unacceptable. These are the very people that we will all need to look after perhaps us or our loved ones in the weeks ahead."

 

Eustice said that, in the last week, manufacturers had produced around 50% more food than they usually would.

 

"We don't think there is a risk of food running out," he said. "The challenge we have is getting food to the shelves and keeping it there." ($1 = 0.8578 pounds)

 

(Writing by Kate Holton and Guy Faulconbridge; Editing by Kevin Liffey)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-03-22

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What's the problem?

Plenty of baked beans ....... you can live on them ...... wouldn't mind a can right now .... on toast.

8 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

What's the problem?

Plenty of baked beans ....... you can live on them ...... wouldn't mind a can right now .... on toast.

TBH I could  eat beans on toast once a day forever.

Something I've never got bored of

Over here the Brooks beans are decent, at least you get plenty of beans and not too much juice

Edited March 22, 20206 yr by Canuck1966

17 minutes ago, rooster59 said:

"Frankly we should all be ashamed that that has to happen," said NHS medical director Stephen Powis. "It's unacceptable.

Yes.

Terrible. Very shameful and selfish.

Sad the supply chain is that bad there. 

2 minutes ago, Cryingdick said:

Sad the supply chain is that bad there. 

 

There is nothing wrong with the supply chains but they rely on reasonable consumption, not panic buying/hoarding...

It's the same in most countries !!

Yet another example of stupid ignorant bureaucracies and politicians.  They declare national emergencies implement all these pandemic crack downs - but dont put in place laws to limit panic buying - the panic they started .- everything else I said begins with f and c and b and has been self deleted. 

according to the OP the Minister he said this;

"There is more than enough food to go round and our food supply chain is able to expand production to cope with increased demand," he said. "

 

so why does he complain, what is the problem

 

--------------

 

another aspect;

with the UK government's track record of straying far away from the truth over the past 4 years

there is no reason whatsoever for the man in the street to believe the cabinet when they say

that wares/grub/loo-paper is plentiful, no reason

 

fully understandable that people grab while possible

 

Says enough about how much they trust the government.

 

By the way I like the "social distancing" from the Danish:

51 minutes ago, rooster59 said:

At a news briefing, he urged people to "be responsible when you shop and think of others".

 

"There is more than enough food to go round and our food supply chain is able to expand production to cope with increased demand," he said.

To be fair if the food supply takes as long as when they finally left the EU I would panic as well.

One minute they are telling everyone not to go out and stay at home for days on end, the next moaning when people are buying in enough to do just that. Can’t have it both ways. 

Edited March 22, 20206 yr by Kadilo

There is panic buying in almost every country affected in North America, Europe,  East Asia.

 

Strangely, I haven't seen panic buying in Thailand yet. Just long queues buying masks.

24 minutes ago, Kadilo said:

One minute they are telling everyone not to go out and stay at home for days on end, the next moaning when people are buying in enough to do just that. Can’t have it both ways. 

I disagree with you on this. They asked people to stay at home and not go to pubs, restaurants etc. They didn't say buy 4 x 24 bog rolls or take 40 tins of Baked Beans as an example, that many have done. 

 

Enough for a few days not a few months.

18 minutes ago, EricTh said:

There is panic buying in almost every country affected in North America, Europe,  East Asia.

 

Strangely, I haven't seen panic buying in Thailand yet. Just long queues buying masks.

Well here in China, I am going to be positive for once about them. The food shops have been open the whole time over the Coronavirus situation, as have I and the shelves have never once been bare or empty.

 

I see the Chinese go and get enough for a few days and then return.

 

Sadly for once the rest of the world should follow suit.

11 minutes ago, Laughing Gravy said:

I disagree with you on this. They asked people to stay at home and not go to pubs, restaurants etc. They didn't say buy 4 x 24 bog rolls or take 40 tins of Baked Beans as an example, that many have done. 

 

Enough for a few days not a few months.

Then stores should ration each customer. Surely that can’t be hard to do. 
At the end of the day Brits are greedy selfish individuals on the whole with an attitude of me first. No surprise at all this is happening. It’s built into the culture. 
 

In addition they don’t believe a word the Government will tell them as Boris is famous for his lies which dont help matters. 

Edited March 22, 20206 yr by Kadilo

My daughter works for Morrisons and one of the staff wrote a very apt poem amidst the Coronavirus panic buying situation.

 

We open at 7. They turn up in droves!

Grabbing the Pasta. Fighting for loaves!

Where is the bog roll? They ask us again!

Where is the Calpol? The delivery is when?

Even baked beans are not safe anymore!

Stockpiling vultures are pillaging the store!

They turn up in gloves armed with a trolley!

The staff we look on and try to stay jolly!

 

We ain't got no eggs. Chicken breast are all gone!

Long life milk in a carton. We ain't got one!

The tills they are ringing. The takings they soar!

N still chuffing shoppers they pile through our door!

You'd think it was Christmas as madness ensues!

Every till open to deal with the queues!

A minority few they have sworn at the staff!

They say it's our fault so we get the wrath!

We are soldiering on with some kind of grace!

Serving you folk with a smile on our face!

 

Molly and Maggie are down on aisle two!

Fighting for tea-cakes one's just lost her shoe!

By God there's a scuffle my money's on Molly!

She's just whacked owd Maggie with pie out a her trolley!

Even owd Norman the one with the donkey!

He's scuffling with Harry their glasses are wonky!

They both want a hand gel but we've only got one!

The staff intervene the fighting is done!

 

The world has gone mad people stockpiling food!

Forgetting their manners and being quite rude!

The deliveries keep coming there's food and there's beer!

No need to hoard no need to fear!

We are serving the community 7 till 11!

We go home to bed then do it again!

Stressful times for all is what I'm thinking!

So I raise you a glass of whatever I'm drinking!

Well all beat this virus we've gotta win through!

So take care of yourselves from our staff to you!

 

Sarah Healey. 19/3/2020.

 

 

 

1 hour ago, cornishcarlos said:

 

There is nothing wrong with the supply chains but they rely on reasonable consumption, not panic buying/hoarding...

It's the same in most countries !!

MSM made the situation worse by repeatedly showing rows of empty shelves, fuelling the public's fear. Piers Morgan is usually on the button but on this occasion he's completely wrong and is utterly scaremongering.

Edited March 22, 20206 yr by evadgib

1 hour ago, melvinmelvin said:

according to the OP the Minister he said this;

"There is more than enough food to go round and our food supply chain is able to expand production to cope with increased demand," he said. "

 

so why does he complain, what is the problem

 

--------------

 

another aspect;

with the UK government's track record of straying far away from the truth over the past 4 years

there is no reason whatsoever for the man in the street to believe the cabinet when they say

that wares/grub/loo-paper is plentiful, no reason

 

fully understandable that people grab while possible

 

Perhaps it’s time to examine who it is who’s been peddling ‘don’t use trust your government’ messages.

 

We’ve seen them often enough here on TVF and elsewhere, often repeating repetitive talking points.

 

An example that springs to mind is the anti-vaxers, you’ll recall their frequent message that governments are up to nefariousness by promoting vaccination.

 

It appears the Coronavirus has targeted anti-vaxers and wiped them all out.

 

 

1 hour ago, Kadilo said:

One minute they are telling everyone not to go out and stay at home for days on end, the next moaning when people are buying in enough to do just that. Can’t have it both ways. 

Over 70s are being asked to self-isolate for 14 days, maybe 12 week. So nothing wrong in stocking up to last at least those initial 14 days.

12 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Perhaps it’s time to examine who it is who’s been peddling ‘don’t use trust your government’ messages.

 

We’ve seen them often enough here on TVF and elsewhere, often repeating repetitive talking points.

 

An example that springs to mind is the anti-vaxers, you’ll recall their frequent message that governments are up to nefariousness by promoting vaccination.

 

It appears the Coronavirus has targeted anti-vaxers and wiped them all out.

 

 

Well clearly the anti-vaxers will not be lining up for the CV19 when it will be available ....

13 minutes ago, stouricks said:

Over 70s are being asked to self-isolate for 14 days, maybe 12 week. So nothing wrong in stocking up to last at least those initial 14 days.

Exactly.......that’s a lot of loo rolls required. 
They ain’t gonna rely on Boris promises to get their food and Medicine. 

Edited March 22, 20206 yr by Kadilo

3 hours ago, BritManToo said:

What's the problem?

Plenty of baked beans ....... you can live on them ...... wouldn't mind a can right now .... on toast.

 

And plenty of gouging.

Friend of mine, not being able to buy in his usual supermarkets (due to either surging mobs or depleted stock) found himself being charged, in one of those ultra low price, "Pricebuster" style supermarkets, 70p for a tin that would usually cost 25p

 

In the big name stores, that have been promoting special shopping hours for the elderley, it has proven impossible to manage entry and they have degenerated into the now common stampede by all and sundry.

 

The "Great British Public" are making total ****s of themselves.

 

WW2/Churchill fantasist Johnson imagines himself to be talking to a "Greatest Generation".

 

He most definitely is not.

 

Hoping that by the time I get back martial law/government rationing of amounts purchased will have been imposed, and that the Army will be requisitioning, for re-distribution, the hoards that have been built up in the homes of the idiot hordes.

 

Coronavirus: nurse in tears after panic buying leaves shelves ...

 

 

 

Edited March 22, 20206 yr by Enoon

The panic buying is much worse in the UK than in other countries in Europe.

 

That is a bit surprising since the UK sold itself as the 'no panic' nation, where everyone is orderly and queues. The reports coming out of the UK now show that the opposite seems to be the case.

 

There are two explanations, the panic buying is driven by the media. The Daily Mail just suggested that instead of toilet paper now alcohol will be the rare product. Queue panic buying of alcohol.

 

The British always had a much bettter, more reliable media than the rest of the world, and their connection with the media is stronger.

 

Another factor is lack of manufacturing and production, the toilet roll panic was probably not helped by the fact that 85% of all toilet rolls used in the UK are imported from the EU.

 

 

26 minutes ago, Enoon said:

And plenty of gouging.

Friend of mine, not being able to buy in his usual supermarkets (due to either surging mobs or depleted stock) found himself being charged, in one of those ultra low price, "Pricebuster" style supermarkets, 70p for a tin that would usually cost 25p

Slightly off topic.

Sent my misses out for a 'panic' sack of rice, she haggled the local shop down from 1,600bht to 1,350bht for a 45Kg sack. Says that's a 20% saving on the normal price we pay, and we should buy in sacks every time, 2-3 months worth.

No surging mobs here, most people don't have the money to 'stock up' they're living hand to mouth.

 

Back on topic.

I'm thinking the panic buying in the UK is driven by lack of trust in the government.

When did they last tell the public the truth about anything?

Edited March 22, 20206 yr by BritManToo

16 minutes ago, Logosone said:

The panic buying is much worse in the UK than in other countries in Europe.

 

That is a bit surprising since the UK sold itself as the 'no panic' nation, where everyone is orderly and queues. The reports coming out of the UK now show that the opposite seems to be the case.

 

There are two explanations, the panic buying is driven by the media. The Daily Mail just suggested that instead of toilet paper now alcohol will be the rare product. Queue panic buying of alcohol.

 

Another factor is lack of manufacturing and production, the toilet roll panic was probably not helped by the fact that 85% of all toilet rolls used in the UK are imported from the EU.

 

i don't understand the panic buying of non-essentials ....... wouldn't food basics be of more use than toilet paper?

Beans/rice/milk powder/flour/sugar/pasta/oil, all shelf stable foods more necessary than toilet paper.

Edited March 22, 20206 yr by BritManToo

28 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

Slightly off topic.

Sent my misses out for a 'panic' sack of rice, she haggled the local shop down from 1,600bht to 1,350bht for a 45Kg sack. Says that's a 20% saving on the normal price we pay, and we should buy in sacks every time, 2-3 months worth.

No surging mobs here, most people don't have the money to 'stock up' they're living hand to mouth.

 

Back on topic.

I'm thinking the panic buying in the UK is driven by lack of trust in the government.

When did they last tell the public the truth about anything?

And you think the Thai Government tells the truth about anything ?   I don't know a Thai that has any trust in their Government (Soldiers in Suits) !

21 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

i don't understand the panic buying of non-essentials ....... wouldn't food basics be of more use than toilet paper?

Beans/rice/milk powder/flour/sugar/pasta/oil, all shelf stable foods more necessary than toilet paper.

 

I would agree. 

 

Of courser once you let the panic buying gnome out of the box it doesn't end. I read a prepper handbook the other day, those guys advise to buy toilet paper, tissues, yarn, syphons, denim clothes to make your own clothes. You can take this madness to infinity. 

 

 

1 hour ago, trainman34014 said:

And you think the Thai Government tells the truth about anything ?   I don't know a Thai that has any trust in their Government (Soldiers in Suits) !

Britain is a bit different though, there's a real chance of food running out and everyone starving in an emergency, and a very short growing season. Not many people could grow their own food.

 

Thailand has food growing everywhere, my garden is full of mango trees, and the fields around me can grow 3 rice crops a year. Plenty of snakes and frogs around to catch if I really needed ......... my misses is used to gathering food in the jungle ........ and we have 5 rai of rice paddy.

Edited March 22, 20206 yr by BritManToo

3 hours ago, evadgib said:

MSM made the situation worse by repeatedly showing rows of empty shelves, fuelling the public's fear. Piers Morgan is usually on the button but on this occasion he's completely wrong and is utterly scaremongering.

The Mogg agrees...

 

4 hours ago, EricTh said:

There is panic buying in almost every country affected in North America, Europe,  East Asia.

 

Strangely, I haven't seen panic buying in Thailand yet. Just long queues buying masks.

 

Most of the poor in Thailand live on rice.....which is in fairly good supply. Oh, and the average wage for the poor outside Bangkok is 12,000 bt per month. 

Edited March 22, 20206 yr by blazes