Headline: UK Households Urged to Prepare for El Niño and Food Supply Disruption

Date: 4 September 2026

Tags: Environment, Food Security, El Niño, Emergency Planning

Summary:

• Environment Secretary Dame Angela Eagle warned households to prepare for disruption caused by an exceptionally strong El Niño.

• She said Britain could experience drier summers, wetter winters and more extreme storms.

• Eagle suggested households keep a modest food supply to increase resilience during emergencies.

• The National Audit Office warned Britain’s food supply is vulnerable to extreme weather, cyber-attacks and disease outbreaks.

• Climate change represents a longer-term threat to the resilience of UK food supplies.

• Supply disruptions could increase food prices and particularly affect financially vulnerable households.

• The NAO said the government relies too heavily on private companies to manage food supply emergencies.

• UK households were found to be less prepared for emergencies than households in several European countries.

• The government plans to publish guidance on preparing for food and water shortages by the end of 2026.

• Food industry representatives also warned cyber-attacks, shipping disruption and future pandemics could threaten supply chains.

Why this matters: Extreme weather and cyber threats could disrupt food availability and prices, increasing the importance of household and national emergency preparedness.

What’s next: The government will publish its national emergency preparedness strategy later this year, including guidance for households on maintaining essential supplies.