Supermarkets including Iceland and Morrisons rationing household staple due to shortages
SHOPPERS are facing rationing on sunflower oil in supermarkets including Morrisons and Iceland.
Industry experts have warned that supplies of the cooking staple could “run out in days” due to shortages sparked by the Ukraine and Russia conflict.
Morrisons, Waitrose and Iceland have imposed buying limits on sunflower oil due to the shortages.
Shoppers can only buy two bottles of the oil at Morrisons and Waitrose and Iceland has set the limit at one bottle per person.
Supermarkets are trying to increase the number of alternative cooking oils available on the shelves, but they are likely to be more expensive due to manufacturing rules.
As it's also an ingredient in household favourites such as crisps and oven chips, popular recipes including Walkers have been changed.
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Ukraine and Russia make most of the world’s sunflower oil and the war has disrupted production.
“The war in Ukraine has disrupted supplies of sunflower oil to the UK,” Tom Holder from the British Retail Consortium said.
“Some retailers have introduced limits on the number of bottles customers can buy as a temporary measure to ensure availability for everyone.
“Where sunflower oil exists as an ingredient in products, retailers will be substituting it with other safe oils, such as rapeseed oil.
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“Retailers are also working with suppliers to ramp up production of alternative cooking oils, to minimise the impact on consumers.”
The Sun has contacted Defra and the Food Standards Agency for comment
Meanwhile, cracks in the supply of eggs have been caused due to rising feed prices for chickens and energy costs.
Industry figures have warned of an egg shortage as frustrated farmers have threatened to quit.
The British Free Range Egg Producers Association (BFREPA) said “scores “ of farmers are considering stopping work at the end of their current flock.
That would wipe hundreds of millions of eggs from supermarket shelves each year.
It has pushed up the cost of free range eggs by at least 40p per dozen, while a pack of organic eggs are up 80p.
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Robert Gooche, CEO of BFREPA said: “Many of my members are losing money on every egg laid, and our data shows that even those who are making a small profit do not see a long-term future.
"The appetite for eggs from the public is extraordinary, but I’m afraid we will see shortages of British free range and organic eggs on the shelves before long.”
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