Tesco became the latest UK supermarket to limit the number of certain fresh food items customers could purchase in their stores, saying on February 23 the measure would be in place for “a short time”.

Tesco followed chains including Asda, Aldi, and Morrisons, who all put limits on purchases of fruit and vegetables including tomatoes, cucumbers, and bell peppers.

The UK’s Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Therese Coffey, told the National Farmers Union that the shortages were down to poor weather in Spain and North Africa.

High electricity prices have also been blamed for having an impact on produce grown in greenhouses in the UK and the Netherlands, the BBC reported.

Footage posted by Twitter user @1BJDJ shows limited tomatoes and peppers amid empty shelves at a Tesco in Manchester.

He told Storyful: “It’s been like that for a few days with no cucumbers and very few or no tomatoes available. Eggs also in short supply. No mention of why, or an attempt to fill with other produce … just empty shelves.” Credit: @1BJDJ via Storyful

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