Ministers urge basic emergency kits as shoppers and preppers stock up

Government advice on emergency planning has coincided with growing evidence that more people in the UK are stockpiling food, water and basic supplies. The guidance is not a call to panic. Ministers say households could consider simple preparations for everyday risks, including extreme weather, cyber attacks and global conflict.

One minister, Angela Eagle, who is in charge of food and farming, told a newspaper that a small store of food can make a difference. She said: 'if you've got a store of a bit of food that can keep you going, you're going to be a lot better off.' The government says it is not telling people to stockpile, but it does encourage basic emergency planning. It also says the UK has a resilient energy system and is working to make the food supply chain more robust.

Shoppers are responding. Alex Budden, a father who has built an emergency food stash for his family, said the aim was preparation, not panic. With what his household normally has in the fridge, freezer and cupboards, he estimated the supplies would last about five or six days. He has started a website offering free help to others. He said power cuts, water loss and difficulty getting food can happen at any time, though he does not describe himself as an apocalyptic believer.

Interest appears to be rising sharply. One report said UK online searches for stockpiling rose by 5,000% this month. A United Nations report listed 28 perceived dangers, including war, artificial intelligence and shortages. A fire officer who helps families draw up emergency plans advised people to buy a little extra of the food they already eat. Within a few weeks, he said, that can build enough to stay at home for around three days.

The food industry is also raising concerns about resilience. About half of the UK's food relies on refrigeration. A temperature-controlled warehouse working at minus 24C was described as one of almost 500 such sites in the UK. Industry figures warned that cold storage is a blind spot in emergency planning. They said the 'red dial is flashing' on risks such as climate change, war and cyber security, and questioned whether the UK has preferential access to energy in a crisis. The government responded that the energy system is resilient and that it is strengthening the food supply chain.

Practical advice from the government focuses on a basic kit. It includes bottled water, first aid supplies, a power bank, a wind-up or battery radio, a torch and non-perishable food. The aim is to have enough to get through an emergency lasting a few days. One senior government figure offered a lighter list, suggesting mascara, concealer, a bottle of sauvignon blanc, a tin of baked beans and a tin of custard.

Some people have gone further than a cupboard top-up. In Liverpool, Dan showed how he stores grab bags, first aid and medical supplies under the stairs. In his kitchen, he buys extra of the food his family already eats and rotates it. He also keeps 300 litres of water in the garden. He rejected the stereotype of preppers as people hiding in the woods with a rifle. Prepping, he said, is like keeping a spare tyre in a car: looking ahead and taking reasonable precautions. It is about increasing the level of disruption needed to derail daily life, whether from geopolitical shocks, extreme weather or cyber attacks.

Broadcasters have also filmed with American preppers who use underground bunkers, but that is not the official advice. The message from ministers and emergency planners is to be alert, not alarmed, and to focus on the basics. Viewers who sent in their own grab-bag lists were less serious. Their supplies included wine, beer, pork scratchings, peanut M&Ms, spring water, corn flakes, milk and prosecco. Dried food in an emergency box may not appeal tonight, but the advice is that a little preparation can pay off.