British retail giant Tesco rations important everyday products

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Tesco supermarket in London: Concerns about fresh supplies

Photo: DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS / AFP

Tesco has introduced purchase restrictions on a number of items in its range.

This includes toilet paper, eggs, rice, soap, and hand washing.

Since Monday, customers have been allowed to buy a maximum of one pack of toilet paper; eggs, rice, soap and detergents are each allowed three units, according to the British Guardian.

According to information from the newspaper, trade experts assume that the rationing is a preventive measure to smooth out demand in the coming weeks, rather than a reaction to shortages or hamster purchases.

However, the British seem to have been preparing for an "emergency" for a long time.

For months now, sales have exceeded restrictions on products such as flour, dried pasta and antibacterial wipes.

On Monday, supermarkets and wholesalers also warned that fresh produce like lettuce, broccoli and citrus fruits could run short before Christmas because thousands of trucks were stranded in Kent after France closed its borders with Britain.

But even if the trucks were not unloaded in time, the emergency was foreseeable - given the difficulties in border traffic due to Brexit and the corona restrictions, it was unlikely that they would return in time with new goods.

Tesco had already introduced a limit on the purchase of toilet paper in November to prevent panic buying, as in March, and encouraged customers to “shop as usual”.

The company said there would be plenty of food until December 25th.

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