Supplier warns there is only a few weeks' supply of sunflower oil left

A bottled oil supplier has warned there is only a few weeks' supply of sunflower oil left due to the war in Ukraine disrupting exports.

The war between Ukraine and Russia, who produce most of the world's sunflower oil, is causing the shortage, said bottled oil company Edible Oils which packages oil for three quarters of the UK retail market, is now stocking up on supplies of other oils for consumers reports the BBC.

Foods that contain sunflower oil, like crisps, oven chips and cereal bars, are also reworking their recipes. The Food Standards Agency has issued advise telling people with allergies to look out for extra information.

Kim Matthews, commercial director at Edible Oils said 80% of the global supply of sunflower oil comes out of Russia and Ukraine. "So obviously, with everything going on out there, we physically can't get sunflower to be coming out of the country," he said.

"If you buy any cooking oil on the supermarket shelves, chances are it has come from the Edible Oils plant in Erith, on the outskirts of south-east London. It bottles oil for brands and retailers own label products. From a UK consumer perspective, sunflower oil is the biggest oil. It's used more than anything else.

"It's a fast moving situation. We're still trying to see if we can get some more but it's looking very tight. Edible Oils Ltd has upped production to 24/7 to try to make sure it has plenty of rapeseed and other oils to put on the shelves when the sunflower oil goes.

"Sunflower is great because you can cook at high temperatures. Rapeseed is very similar. You can do exactly the same with it. At the moment, Ukrainian farmers should be sowing the seeds now for the harvest in October and November.

"Clearly that's not going to happen…