Several major supermarkets have imposed restrictions on popular items such as soap and pasta in a bid to help prevent panic-buying.
Images on social media showed entire shelves empty of toilet roll and hygiene products over the weekend, while in many stores, hand sanitisers have been placed behind checkouts to restrict the number of sales per person.
It comes as Public Health England urged members of the public to “plan ahead “for if they had to self-isolate for a couple of weeks.
Tesco has almost entirely sold out of dried pasta online and has now introduced a five limit number on several items, including anti-bacterial wipes and long-life milk.
The grocer is rationing baked beans and pasta as experts warned , 416 people could die in the UK.
It is also limiting sales of hand sanitiser gels – bottles of which have been on sale online at times their value.
It comes as a third coronavirus patient died in the UK on Sunday.
Public Health England has urged people to “plan ahead” in case they have to self-isolate, but the Government’s chief scientist Sir Patrick Vallance said there is “absolutely no reason” to panic buy.
A Defra spokesman said decisions on limiting sales were for stores but added Environment Secretary George Eustice would discuss the moves with bosses today.
Food was last rationed during and after the Second World War with limits in place until Tesco
GIPHY App Key not set. Please check settings