Food Emergency Preparedness; Information

Food Security

In the unlikely—but nevertheless never entirely impossible—event of a supply crisis, i.e., if a significant portion of the population living in Germany no longer has access to food through the free market, the government would have to take over the supply of food. The state could then introduce public food rationing and enact regulations governing the production, procurement, or distribution of food. The legal basis for this is the Food Security and Preparedness Act, which applies both to supply crises in the event of a state of defense and to supply crises caused by civilian disasters.

Food Security Planning

The federal government and the states are obligated to make organizational, personnel, and material preparations so that they can take the necessary measures in the event of a supply crisis. This includes joint crisis management between the federal government and the states. It is also the state’s responsibility to inform the public about ways to protect themselves, such as maintaining private food reserves.

In Bavaria, the following authorities are responsible for food emergency preparedness:

• the Bavarian State Ministry of Food, Agriculture, Forestry, and Tourism (StMELF),
• seven district administrations, and
• the Offices for Food, Agriculture, and Forestry (ÄELF) at the district administration and independent city levels.

In principle, every household should have a certain amount of food stored. This can consist of the following:

• Fresh produce (fruit, vegetables, dairy products)
• Dry goods and canned foods (coffee, tea, sugar, honey, fruit spreads, mustard, vinegar, salt, spices, canned vegetables and fruits)
• Ready-to-eat meals (soups, pasta dishes)
• Frozen foods (meat, poultry, fish, bread, etc.)
• Beverages (mineral water, fruit juice, etc.)

Matches, a lighter, candles, and a spirit or gas stove can also be useful in the event of a power outage. In addition, every household should have a water canister that can be refilled as needed.