Stock up on food to prepare for extreme El Niño weather, minister warns
A UK government minister has advised citizens to stockpile food in preparation for extreme weather caused by a severe El Niño event. An official report also highlighted vulnerabilities in the UK's food supply chain, including risks from cyber-attacks and climate change.
Why it matters
It highlights growing concerns regarding national food security and the resilience of supply chains against climate-driven disasters.
Image source, Getty Images By Archie Mitchell Business reporter Published 4 September 2026, 11:40 BST Households should stock up on food to prepare for extreme weather as the strongest El Niño event in a generation develops over the Pacific Ocean, a government minister has said.
Environment Secretary Dame Angela Eagle told the Guardian the powerful natural climate phenomenon will lead to "more extreme storms in this country".
Her comments came as the National Audit Office (NAO) warned Britain's food supply chain is at risk given the growing threat of cyber-attacks and the climate crisis.
The NAO said the government was too reliant on the private sector to deal with food supply disruption. The government is due to unveil a strategy about preparing for national emergencies later this year.
Also covering this story
One other newsroom covered this event. We read that version too.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in