There appears to be growing unrest among British consumers over shortages of everyday staples such as fruit and vegetables and the resulting spiralling prices for them - including peppers. It came after Therese Coffey, the Environment Secretary, suggested people struggling to afford their food bills could consider working more hours and instead of eating tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers they should try turnips.
Ms Coffey sparked some angry debate on social media after announcing that the shortages of fruit and vegetables was a temporary issue that should be resolved in two to four weeks. She also told MPs a “lot of people would be eating turnips right now” under a seasonal food model – rather than thinking about lettuce, tomatoes and similar produce – although she accepted consumers want a “year-round choice”.
Downing Street later stepped in to "clarify" her remarks, saying that she was setting out the importance of “celebrating” British produce when appearing to suggest that eating turnips could help avoid fruit and vegetable shortages in UK supermarkets. No 10 also rejected suggestions that Brexit was to blame for any shortages, instead pointing to the "poor weather in certain parts of southern Europe and north Africa".
However, some punters were quick to point out that people already hit hard by the cost-of-living crisis were still being besieged by crippling price rises. One Twitter user, Dave Kendall, was horrified to find the price of red peppers had doubled in price in under a month — something, he said, people in the UK only observed in third world countries.
He fumed: "50p each 3 weeks ago, now £1.00. This is the sort of inflation we used to see in 3rd world countries ruled by despots. This is Britain’s status now. Thanks Rishi Sunak."
Restaurateur James Allcock claimed he was being hit by both sides — having to deal with an overnight 65 per cent rise in the cost of padron peppers while at the same time being accused by diners of profiteering. One of his pepper dishes was being charged at £5.50, yet if he were to factor in the overnight price rise, he said he should now be charging £7.50.
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He added: "We get how hard things are at home for everyone also, money is tight, but the illusion restaurants are raking it in is simply that… an illusion!"
One person named Trina S said that had she known a three-pack of peppers for £1.65 had now become a two-pack for the same price she would have bought individual peppers and saved herself some money.
John Wiggy said it reminded him of lockdown, when there was a sudden and inexplicable rush to buy lavatory paper.
In Parliament, MPs were told the shortage of tomatoes in the supermarkets had widened to other fruit and vegetables due to bad weather and transport problems in Africa and Europe. Some supermarkets had introduced rationing of certain fresh produce, as more and more photographs emerged online of rows of empty greengrocery shelves.
Responding to an urgent question in the Commons, Ms Coffey said: “I am led to believe by my officials, after discussion with industry and retailers, we anticipate the situation will last about another two to four weeks. It is important that we try and make sure that we get alternative sourcing options. That is why the department has already been in discussion with the retailers."
Labour's shadow environment secretary, Jim McMahon, said: “There is genuine public concern about the availability of food, and as the secretary responsible for our food security – and let’s bear in mind food security is national security – this is absolutely mission-critical.”
He questioned suggestions the food shortages were entirely caused by external forces, claiming ministers could have done more to support farmers with access to “the energy-intensive support scheme”, and could have increased quotas on labour to help with workforce shortages.
Conservative former minister Sir Desmond Swayne ridiculed suggestions that Brexit was responsible for the shortages. He said: “If only I had been told before I voted for Brexit that it was going to cause frosts in Morocco, I could have made a different decision, couldn’t I?”
Fellow Tory Selaine Saxby (North Devon) suggested seasonal eating would solve the issue. She said: “The supermarkets are still importing far too many products for us and… actually we should be eating more seasonally and supporting our own British farmers.
“And if we were actually to move to a seasonal line of eating, many of these problems would be avoided… there are great food products available from local farmers at this time.”
Ms Coffey then replied: “It’s important to make sure that we cherish the specialisms that we have in this country. A lot of people would be eating turnips right now rather than thinking necessarily about aspects of lettuce and tomatoes and similar, but I’m conscious that consumers want a year-round choice and that is what our supermarkets, food producers and growers around the world try to satisfy.”
The Environment Secretary was also criticised for suggesting people struggling to afford their food bills could consider working more hours. Labour MP Rachael Maskell was heard saying “that’s appalling” as Ms Coffey replied to her concerns about food banks in York running out of stock.
Ms Coffey noted inflation was “really tough at the moment” and outlined support schemes in place. She added that “one of the best ways” for people to boost their incomes was either by getting work if they were unemployed or “potentially to work some more hours” or “get upskilled” in a bid to secure a higher wage.
Speaking after the exchanges in the Commons, Ms Maskell told the PA news agency: “It is shocking the Environment Secretary shifted blame for food poverty on to people because they are on low wages and are poor, expecting them to work even more hours to put food on the table.
“People are going hungry, often limiting themselves to one small meal a day or missing food altogether. It is time her Government supported families in need, not making them work harder for a crust.”
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