A nationwide shortage of pasta is affecting some stores in Bristol, with Tesco and Sainsbury’s both having difficulties filling up their shelves.
Both supermarket chains have reported a shortage of pasta which is currently leaving shelves in Bristol shops empty, and they have now issued responses as the crisis continues.
The widespread national shortage has been caused by a dearth of durum wheat, which is ground into semolina to make spaghetti, penne and macaroni.
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The wheat price has shot up by 90-100 per cent this summer after a drought and soaring temperatures hit farms in Canada - one of the biggest producers.
It's now affecting shoppers in Bristol with empty shelves being seen across the city and, with the wheat price going up, the price of pasta could soon follow.
Jason Bull, Director of Eurostar Commodities, the UK’s leading independent ingredients experts, said: "We should be under no illusion climate change is causing this.
“It’s because of the durum crop – pasta is made with durum wheat and the biggest exporter is Canada.
“They’ve had a very bad crop due to extreme dry weather – it’s hardly rained since they planted the crop so they’re down about 42 per cent.
“It had a big drop and then the USA is down nearly 50 per cent.
“Couple with hat the opposite effect – in Europe and France they’ve had excessive rain, so the wheat crop isn’t suitable for milling.
“So, it’s a bad situation on both sides of the Atlantic."
A Sainsbury’s spokesperson said: “Our colleagues and suppliers are working hard to make sure customers can find everything they need when they shop with us.
“Availability in some product categories may vary but alternatives are available and stores continue to receive deliveries daily.”
A spokesperson for Tesco said they're 'working hard to get customers what they need' and they have a good availability of pasta at the moment.
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