NO NEED TO PANIC, AUSTRALIA PRODUCES ENOUGH FOOD FOR 75 MILLION

The Australian Food and Grocery Council (AFGC)  is reassuring Australians that there is more than enough food being processed, as an increase in the purchasing of food and grocery products in Victoria begins to look similar to the ‘panic buying’ experience earlier in the year.

Acting CEO Dr Geoffrey Annison said that with the unfortunate number of COVID-19 cases in Victoria, no one needs to panic buy food and grocery products.

“Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and still today, AFGC has continued working closely with food and grocery manufacturers and government to ensure minimal disruption to supply chains and that there is no need for people to panic buy products.

“In Australia we are lucky because most of our food is grown and produced here. We produce enough food to feed 75 million people. That is enough to feed the entire population three times over. We have a very safe, reliable, and efficient food supply chain.

“Australian consumers can be confident essential products and their favourite brands will continue to be available as the coronavirus runs its course. The food, beverage and grocery sector is working hard to ensure Aussies can access everything they need,” Dr Annison said.

“We have a very strong, reliable and resilient Food and grocery sector that worked hard to make it possible for essential products to reach Australians right around the country. We are proud of how responsive and agile the Australian food, beverage and grocery sector has been during the COVID-19 crisis. We thank the companies, their staff and supply chains for keeping the shelves stocked for all Aussies,” Dr Annison said.

The $122.1 billion Australian food, beverage and grocery manufacturing sector is the biggest manufacturing sector with 273,000 jobs and is a backbone to regional Australia.