Currently, with the winter weather, the pandemic and the supply chain issues, there are huge amounts of food hoarding taking place as a part of “panic buying.” Panic buying is, “the action of buying large quantities of a particular product or commodity due to sudden fears of a forthcoming shortage or price increase.”

However, it is more than just that, it is a, perception of a threat: with inflation or scarcity of products. Then there is the fear of the unknown. People are anxious whether the worst is over, wondering when they will get out next and so on, which panic buying is a way people use to relieve this anxiety.

There are a number of empty shelves in grocery stores and many food delivery services are running out of foods that can be essential to a person’s diet:

1. Cheese
2. Milk
3. Eggs
4. Yogurt
5. Bread
6. Water

Along with other essentials such as, toilet paper, COVID at-home tests, and so much more.  Consumers need to be mindful of the fact that they are not the only ones that need these products, and that hoarding/panic buying can be detrimental to the yours and everyone else’s health.