İngiltere, İran savaşı devam ederse yazın tavuk ve domuz eti dahil gıda kıtlığı yaşayabilir

The UK could face food shortages, including chicken and pork, by the summer if the Iran war continues, in a worst-case scenario drawn up by government officials.

A government source told the BBC it was planning for a scenario which would involve the continued closure of the Strait of Hormuz and breakdowns in the supply of carbon dioxide (CO2), which is used in the slaughter of some animals and in food preservation.

A spokesperson from the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs said it would continue to work closely with businesses to tackle the impact of the war. "Reasonable worst case scenarios are a planning tool used by experts and are not a prediction of future events", they added.

Since the US and Israel launched wide-ranging strikes on Iran, the Iranian government has responded by effectively shutting the Strait of Hormuz - a crucial waterway for oil and gas transport - causing prices for petrol, diesel and fertiliser to soar.

Business Secretary Peter Kyle said CO2 shortages were not a concern "at this moment". "Right now, people should go on as they are," he told Sky News.

Food sector leaders said they were more concerned about price rises than shortages. "We are in very good shape," said Murphy, but he would not comment on what could happen to food prices.

The British Retail Consortium, representing major brands including Sainsburys and Pret, expects government contingency planning, noting retailers' experience with supply disruptions. "However, the situation in the Middle East continues to add inflationary pressure at a time when retailers already face significant new costs from domestic policies."

The Food and Drink Federation forecasts food inflation to reach 9% by December. The Agricultural Industries Confederation raised concerns about fertiliser costs, warning of potential food crisis if fuel and fertiliser prices remain too high.

Last month, the National Farmers' Union said cucumber and tomato prices could rise over the next six weeks, with other crops and milk costs increasing in three to six months.

Lord Toby Harris, chair of the National Preparedness Commission, said testing management scenarios improves preparedness as international events affect the UK.

In response, the government last month temporarily restarted the Ensus bioethanol plant, which produces CO2, renewable fuel and animal feed after it was mothballed in September 2025. A spokesperson said they were confident in continuing CO2 production for the foreseeable future.