UK public at risk of food and medicine shortages

50% of all food supplied to the UK consumer is temperature-controlled and if this supply is not controlled and protected in times of crisis then this vital food and medicine source will cause severe shortages. In turn, research shows that this causes civil unrest and further food inflation. 

The CCF formally communicated its concerns to Ministers, outlining necessary actions to fortify the cold chain against future challenges. The cold chain industry demands the government take two essential steps:

• To recognise the cold chain sector as critical national infrastructure ensuring government support in providing vital food and medicine supplies to the UK public.
• To work with the Cold Chain Federation to conduct a review of cold chain resilience across the UK and to develop a Disaster Recovery Plan (DRP) as a matter of urgency.

Cold Chain Federation CEO Phil Pluck, said: "The cold chain is the backbone of a healthy society, guaranteeing the safety and quality of food, medicine, and plants. However, it is confronted with escalating challenges, and the government must urgently recognise its critical role.

“Food shortages yield two specific outcomes: skyrocketing food inflation and social unrest. We cannot afford to be complacent and assume that food supply in the UK is secure.

“The recent government Food Security Report failed to mention the cold chain sector and its resources in any part of the report and yet 50% of the UK food supply is stored or transported by it.

“Preventing failure in the cold chain is not an option; it is an absolute imperative.”

For more information, visit www.coldchainfederation.org.uk