CONSUMERS IN THE UNITED KINGDOM will need to maximize their use of sunflower oil, as Tesco is rumored to be rationing cooking oil purchases due to the Ukraine-Russia war.

Teso’s move is the latest in a series of retailers’ efforts to restrict customer access as the conflict chokes off the flow of sunflower oil into the United Kingdom. Morrisons and Waitrose have already implemented a two-per-person buying limit.

Waitrose said it was “closely monitoring the situation and working with our suppliers to ensure customers continue to have a choice of cooking oils”.

Sainsbury’s and Asda have taken no action to date.

Ukraine and Russia produce over 60% of the world’s sunflower oil.

Sunflower oil is one of the ‘big four’ vegetable oils available in the UK, ranking behind a palm, soya bean, and rapeseed.

Due to the lack of sunflower oil, prices for palm, rapeseed, and soya bean oils have increased as well.

Sunflower oil, extracted from sunflower seeds, is frequently used as a frying oil and as an emollient in cosmetic compositions.

Edible Oils, which packages oil for 75% of the UK retail market, warned earlier this month that it had only a few weeks’ supplies remaining.

Other factors, such as the coronavirus pandemic and climate change, are believed to have had an effect on sunflower oil stocks and prices.

For the latest International News Follow BOL News on Google News. Read more on Latest International News on oldsite.bolnews.com