Brits are complaining about soaring prices at supermarkets amid fears the Iran war could see the rate of annual grocery inflation double over the coming months.
Shoppers are taking to social media to complain about 'expensive' and 'next level' costs after a sustained period of rising food and drink prices for UK households.
UK retail food prices are already 38 per cent higher than pre-Covid levels and experts fear further significant hikes if disruption caused by Middle East conflict persists.
A shopper from Glasgow called Jade Kelly posted a TikTok video on Monday of her unpacking a supermarket shop which cost £103, describing it as 'expensive as hell'.
The eyebrow specialist looked exasperated as she took items out of her shopping bags, saying: 'So expensive... £103, £103 for all that. How many dinners in that?'
Ms Kelly's haul included two multipacks of crisps, two ready-to-eat pasta pots, grapes, toothpaste, pomegranates, two packs of Milkybar yoghurts, a salad bag, two pepperoni pizzas, popcorn chicken bites, ham, Mini Eggs and Andrex toilet roll.
Also in her bags were a cooked chicken, paracetamol, ibuprofen, Fridge Raiders, crispy chicken fillets, bodywash, a sourdough loaf, three watermelon snack packs,Nutella, white bread, Reese's Pieces,a bag of Maltesers,Kinder Bueno,broccoli,two dried pasta boxes,pancakes,milk,fabric softener and a four-pack of drinks.
Ms Kelly said: '£103 - Shocking, and that isn't even a full food shop, that isn't even all my dinners for the week. How are people meant to live? It's so bad.'
@xjadekelly
Food shops are getting worse, expensive as hell! #foodshop #foodhaul #dinner #monday
♬ original sound - JadeKellyxo
@chamssxo
This didn't even include meat 😭 #foodshopping #ukprices #asda #costofliving
♬ original sound - Mamfatou Cham
In an Instagram video posted last week, business coach and travel consultant Vicki Mcfarlane posted a clip of her supermarket shop at Tesco, saying: 'I can't get over how expensive food shopping has gone in the six months we have been away.'
She added that the 'price of stuff in the supermarkets is next level', but showed off a series of items reduced with yellow stickers which she described as 'whoopsies'.
The Institute of Grocery Distribution (IGD) has warned this week that UK households could face food inflation above 8 per cent within months if disruption caused by the Iran war persists - with food inflation more than doubling by the summer.
Fresh forecasts by the organisation show that food inflation could increase from its current rate of 3.6 per cent to 'briefly reach over 8 per cent by June 2026', if firms are impacted by 'most severe but short-lived energy shock scenario'.
The energy price surges following the Russian invasion of Ukraine have particularly contributed to price rises over the period since before the pandemic.
IGD said its highest impact scenario would see a 'short-lived but severe' increase in food prices, with inflation rising to around 6.4 per cent across 2026 as a result.
This would add more than £150 to the average household's annual grocery bill and add further pressure on families preparing for a jump in energy bills this summer.
@s_alicex
Am I being dramatic or is this insane for £35??🤨 #foodshop #topupfoodshop #sainsburys #toddlersnacks #weeklyfoodshop
♬ original sound - Shannon Alice
Food production is energy intensive and therefore particularly exposed to sudden changes in oil and gas prices, as has been witnessed in recent weeks.
The latest modelling shows that a middle scenario with a 'more moderate' energy shock would still lift average food inflation to around 4.8 per cent for 2026.
A baseline scenario with no Middle East conflict would still see food inflation averaging 3.8 per cent for the year.
At the start of this month, separate figures showed grocery price inflation rose to 4.3 per cent in February after four consecutive months of falls in a blow for households.
The rate was up from 4 per cent in January, according to market research firm Worldpanel by Numerator.
The firm's next update - expected to be unveiled early next month - will provide more insight on the impact of the Iran war throughout March.
The British Retail Consortium has been contacted for comment on behalf of UK supermarkets.