Supermarkets beg public not to panic buy amid 'pingdemic' food & essentials shortages.

SHOPPERS have spotted shortages in supermarkets including bottled water and fresh fruit and veg.

Supplies to shops have been hit by the "pingdemic" forcing workers to self-isolate adding to existing worker shortages and increased demand from the heatwave.

Ice creams and beer are also among the items running low in some locations, as supermarkets warned customers not to panic buy.

Empty shelves have been spotted in supermarkets, including Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda, Morrisons, Iceland and Lidl.

Food will still be available in stores, but shoppers are likely to see fewer items on shelves and less choice of products.

A number of problems through the food supply chain have combined to create what's been described as a "perfect storm".

Increasing numbers of workers are being "pinged" by the NHS Covid app creating staff shortages in supermarkets and factories producing food.

There's also a shortage of lorry drivers and fruit and veg pickers which has threatened supplies while the heatwave has increased demand for salads, ice cream and BBQ food.

Fresh fruit and veg shelves are among those that have been harder hit.

Nigel Jenny, the boss of the Fresh Produce Consortium told The Sun fresh produce is more susceptible to disruption.

He said: "We’re doing the utmost to serve customers but a lot is out of our control. We simply don't have staff to deliver the goods that we’re keen to get to customers.

"Given the nature of fresh produce, it’s highly perishable, so there’s a very short supply chain susceptible to disruption and that can have an impact quickly."

There’s a shortfall of staff of between 10% and 25% across the fresh produce industry, ranging from harvesting crops to production lines where goods are packaged.

But shoppers have struggled to get hold of bottled water too, especially with the rising temperatures.

Lack of items in stores depends on locations and the items loaded onto lorries for each delivery.

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Supermarket pingdemic shortages – the products affected in Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Lidl, Morrisons, Aldi, Iceland revealed

www.thesun.co.uk/money/15662378/supermarket-pingdemic-shortages-products-affected-tesco-sainsburys-lidl/

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