Tesco has introduced rationing of essential food and household items as a result of panic buying and stockpiling over fears about the Coronavirus.
Shoppers are limited to buying no more than five of each of the rationed goods, in store and online, including antibacterial gels, wipes and sprays, dry pasta, baked beans, UHT milk, some tinned vegetables and children’s medicine Calpol.
Asda and Morrisons have already limited the sale of hand sanitiser, but most stocks have sold out anyway.
A spokesman Tesco said it is in talks with suppliers to ensure the heightened demand for essentials is met, adding some individual stores may have introduced restrictions, with “some branch managers making a judgement at a localised level”.
Waitrose has introduced a temporary cap on some items on its website, including some anti-bacterial soaps and wipes.
The Government has pledged the public will continue to have “the food and supplies they need” during the Covid-19 outbreak amid fears of panic buying and empty shelves.
Environment Secretary George Eustice held talks with supermarket and trade body bosses over food supply contingencies on Friday and said he was reassured retailers were taking “all the necessary steps” to keep shelves well-stocked.
He said: “I spoke with chief executives from the UK’s leading supermarkets to discuss their response to coronavirus.
“The retailers reassured me they have well-established contingency plans and are taking all the necessary steps to ensure consumers have the food and supplies they need.
“Retailers are continuing to monitor their supply chains and have robust plans in place to minimise disruption.”
