UK Supermarkets Warn of Food Security Crisis Amid Heatwave and Wildfires Major UK supermarkets and food manufacturers urge government action on food security, citing climate shocks, rising prices, and declining domestic fruit and vegetable production. Britain's largest supermarkets, including Tesco and Sainsbury's, have issued a stark warning about the nation's food security amid a severe heatwave and wildfires sweeping across Europe. In a joint letter to Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, the retailers and major food manufacturers are pressing the government to tackle vulnerabilities in the food supply chain. The letter, organized by the Food Foundation charity, is signed by Tesco, Sainsbury's, Co-op, Greencore, and Danone, and backed by charities such as Barnardo's, Amnesty International UK, and WWF-UK. It highlights that the UK is importing more fruit and vegetables while domestic production declines.'The next food shock is not a question of if, but when. To meet it prepared, food has to stop being an afterthought for the Government,' the letter states. This unprecedented coalition of businesses and charities demands immediate action to fortify the food system against escalating environmental and geopolitical disruptions. The letter outlines three crisis-level challenges: a food supply dangerously exposed to frequent shocks, prices rising faster than incomes, and worsening diet-related ill health.Anna Taylor, executive director of the Food Foundation, warned that the UK food system is 'dangerously exposed to shocks far beyond our borders,' leading to higher prices and poorer families struggling to afford fresh produce. British farmers, meanwhile, face soaring costs for fertilizer and energy, compounded by extreme weather damaging harvests.Sainsbury's chief executive Simon Roberts emphasized the need for 'a more resilient food system that attracts investment, backs British farmers, and helps keep affordable, nutritious food on tables across the nation.' Andrew Selley of Bidfood added that as a foodservice wholesaler, his company sees firsthand the risks to fruit and vegetable growers and the price increases passed on to customers. To address these threats, the signatories are calling for a 'Good Food Bill' that would set legally binding targets to reduce childhood obesity, increase the proportion of fruit and vegetables grown in Britain, and mandate greater transparency in food policy.The urgency is amplified by this summer's wildfires in France, Spain, and Portugal, which have damaged crops, and the UK's own record-breaking temperatures. The coalition insists that the government must act decisively to prevent a full-blown food crisis, securing a stable, affordable, and healthy food supply for all Britons. Without such measures, the nation remains vulnerable to the next inevitable shock, leaving the most vulnerable populations at risk