Shoppers asked to consider the impact of stockpiling essentials.
A Glasgow foodbank is urging shoppers to consider the impact of panic-buying on those less fortunate than themselves.
Supermarket shelves across Scotland have been stripped bare over the past few days as people stockpile amid the coronavirus outbreak.
Staples such as dried pasta, UHT milk and toilet roll are in especially short supply, with many supermarkets restricting the number of items that can be purchased.
The knock-on effect is that food banks are facing major shortages and a decline in donations.
Glasgow North West Foodbank is now calling on people to avoid bulk-buying wherever possible.
A statement on the foodbank’s Facebook page reads: “Following recent reports of the coronavirus and mass panic shopping, we would like to ask people to consider the effects of this type of shopping.
“Items have already been limited online. Dried pasta, toilet roll, long life milk. These are key staples to our food bank that have been cut off.
“The food bank places many orders for the people every week. With panic buying we could face no longer being able to do this and it does put the food bank into difficulty.”
The statement goes on to state that unless new supplies come in to the foodbank every week, organisers will be unable to provide for the “mass amounts” of people who currently rely on it.
“New shopping limits being brought in could make our work so much harder,” it reads.
“With the amount of people we feed bulk buying unfortunately is required. We will contact stores for help with emergency food provision. Hopefully an arrangement can be fixed to help food banks cater to high demand.
“Many people also do have the money to bulk buy, but others are less fortunate and cannot afford to mass buy. People can wait a full week just to top up lifeline essentials.”
Meanwhile, a fundraising ceilidh for Glasgow South East foodbank has been cancelled due to the outbreak.
Organisers said: “Due to the coronavirus, we have made the decision to cancel our planned ceilidh on Friday, 27 March.”
