The army could be drafted in to deliver food to supermarkets under new contingency plans to keep shelves stocked if the coronavirus outbreak worsens, it has been revealed.
It comes amid widespread reports of panic buying at UK shops and the Government's assurances that there will be no shortages as more Britons catch COVID-19 and are put in isolation.
The proposal to potentially involve the army is on the table following a meeting by a food emergency committee, according to trade journal The Grocer.
The Food Chain Emergency Liaison Group (FCELG), which is the food equivalent of the Government's emergency Cobra committee, has met for the first time since crisis talks over how the nation would cope with grocery supplies post-Brexit and using the army was a key item.
The Grocer said committee talks included food and medical supplies delivered by soldiers if there was a mass lay-off of workers at suppliers and distribution centres.
It said it had learned the FCELG had been stung into action by industry criticism of a slow Government response to the killer virus.
The Government has said there is "no need" for members of the public to stock up on items such as toilet roll, hand sanitiser, tissues, pasta or other long-life food.
Toilet roll makers are calling for calm from shoppers who are panic buying the bathroom essential.
In a joint statement the Confederation of Paper Industries and the Paper Industry Technical Association they said: "Coronavirus has no impact, or likely impact, on the actual demand for toilet tissue and it follows there is no need to panic buy or stockpile."
Shoppers are turning to frozen food as the COVID-19 outbreak spreads, the boss of Iceland has claimed.
Richard Walker, managing director of the supermarket chain, said there was no need for shoppers to panic-buy, with the retailer reporting "no supply issues" despite the outbreak.
The comments come as the supermarket revealed it has cut 29 per cent of its yearly plastic usage after a series of sustainability pledges in 2018.
Mr Walker said shoppers were turning to frozen food in a bid to stockpile in case of self-isolation but warned that panic-buying could harm more vulnerable customers.
He said: "Sales are definitely ahead of forecasts for the past week.
"People are choosing to stock up on frozen and our deliveries are above expectations as well.
"We've had no problems with supply or stock whatsoever, although obviously demand has been high.
"I think customers also have a responsibility to shop responsibly as not everyone can afford to stockpile.
"It's important we all work together."
The Grocer reported that a supermarket boss called on the Government to remove the 5p bag plastic charge following the virus outbreak, but Mr Walker said he believed there was no need for the change.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said the hours which deliveries can be made to supermarkets and other food retailers will be extended to help the industry respond.
Commenting on reports of people panic-buying in shops, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said previously: "We've had no advice from the scientific advisers or medical officers that there's any need for people to buy stuff in.
"If you think you have symptoms, the best thing to do as you know is to stay at home and contact the NHS.
"We will make sure we give the NHS... the investment it needs to cope with this crisis."
In the UK, almost 400 people have tested positive for coronavirus and six have died, as of Wednesday morning.
