The Government has urged shoppers to be responsible, following panic buying sparked by the coronavirus outbreak.
Environment Secretary George Eustice said there is more than enough food to go around, but that shops are struggling to keep shelves stocked due to increased purchasing.
Supermarkets have been overwhelmed, with scenes in Liverpool replicating those across the country.
The call for restraint has been mirrored by Professor Stephen Powis, medical director at NHS England who warned panic-buyers are depriving NHS staff of the supplies they need.
He said: “These are the very people that we all need to look after perhaps us or our loved ones in the weeks to come.”
The government has temporarily relaxed elements of competition law as part of a package of measures to allow supermarkets to work together to feed the nation.
The move allows retailers to share data with each other on stock levels, cooperate to keep shops open, or share distribution depots and delivery vans and to pool staff with one another to help meet demand.
Rules around driver hours have also been waived, so they can deliver more food to stores.
Read more on gov.uk: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/supermarkets-to-join-forces-to-feed-the-nation
