Supermarkets Deny Reports Of Meat 'Panic Buying'

Tue, 07 Aug 2007
 
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The recent discovery of foot and mouth disease at a Surrey farm has not led to any "panic buying" of meat, leading supermarkets have revealed.

All livestock movements, including the transportation of animals to abattoirs, have been banned since last Friday, but Britain’s major supermarket groups were quick to state that there have been no signs of people stockpiling meat products in response.

Industry experts have said that a repeat of the temporarily sharp fall in demand for meat, which occurred as a result of the foot and mouth crisis in 2001, was unlikely.

However there are still some concerns surrounding the availability of meat reared in the UK should the ban on livestock movements remain in place for a prolonged period.

"If we are not able to slaughter livestock within a week, it will become increasingly difficult to source British product," commented Stuart Roberts, director of the British Meat Processors Association.

Supermarkets such as Tesco and Asda have well-established contingency plans in place in the event of serious disruption to the supply chain, while industry groups have urged them not to rush into importing meat should a shortfall occur.

Tesco, the UK's largest supermarket chain, said it had not witnessed any stockpiling at its stores, while Asda said stock levels remained "good" and customers’ shopping patterns had remained the same.

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