Coronavirus fears send shoppers scrambling to prepare ‘pandemic pantries’

Concerned shoppers hit by worries over the growing scale of the coronavirus in the United States are stocking up their ‘pandemic pantries’ to prepare for the possibility of the virus spiraling into a worldwide pandemic.

Oatmilk, fruit snacks, pretzels and cat food have seen massive spikes in sales in the past week as those diagnosed in the U.S. rose to 152 with eleven deaths. 

Demand for cleaning and disinfecting supplies has also reached high intensity, with a 1,400% jump in demand for hand sanitizer in the past week. 

The top panic pantry necessity is oat milk, according to Nielsen, which saw a 305.5% growth in its sales by the end of February. It was followed by fruit snacks and pet medicine as the product shoppers were most eager to stock up on as they create their shopping list. 

Stores around the U.S. have been pictured with empty shelves and long lines waiting outside, despite calls from the Trump administration and health officials not to panic.   

An expert has claimed that it may already be too late.  

This Twitter user had purchased tins and tins of soup in case he needed to stay at home because of the coronavirus

Empty shelves in the disinfection isle with the stores running out of disinfecting wipes and other similar products in Miami

Long lines at the check out in a Florida Costco as shoppers stop up on water and canned food in case of emergency

Shoppers at Costco panic buying water, tissue and Clorox products after the second case in New York was confirmed

Coronavirus panic buying in Costco store in Miami, Florida, as concerned consumers rush to build up their ‘pandemic pantry’ 

The Twitter user also picked up some cleaning products, top right, which have seen a massive spike in sales in February 2020

There have been eleven deaths in Washington state and California as a result of the virus

Dr. James Cherry of UCLA, an infectious diseases expert since 1963, has warned that it made ‘no sense’ to rush to grocery stores now to buy supplies. He has already had a supply of food and other essentials ready in case of an earthquake near his Californian home. 

‘I think going out now and stocking up on all kinds of stuff, that doesn’t make any sense to me,’ he told the LA Times.

Recommended foods for a ‘pandemic pantry’ 

Ready-to-eat canned meats, fruits, vegetables and a can opener 

Protein or fruit bars 

Dry cereal or granola

Peanut butter 

Dried fruit 

Canned juices 

Non-perishable pasteurized milk 

High energy foods 

Food for infants

Comfort stress foods 

Ensure to pack a manual can opener and eating utensils

Do not buy foods that will make you thirsty 

One gallon of water per person per day for at least three days should also be included

 ‘The fact that they noted it had been circulating for six weeks in Washington state before anybody noticed it, with many, many mild cases that went unrecognized, that’s why I don’t think this will be so bad.’

According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, homes should always have a two-week supply of water, food and medicine on hand in preparation from any emergency and the coronavirus as spurred some to make a start. 

Consumers are lining up to stock up their homes with goods that will allow them to stay at home for weeks, in case restrictions are placed on leaving your home such as they have been in China, the virus’s epicenter, where hundreds of millions have been in some kind of home lock down and residential buildings have been sealed.  

Store shelves in China, Taiwan and Japan are said to be void of bleach, hand sanitizer, toilet paper and cleaning pads and the trend for cleaning products stockpiles has been continuing in the U.S.

Compared to February 2019, the sale of masks, sanitizer, thermometers and aerosol disinfectants grew by a remarkable rate in February 2020 .

Sales of medical masks rose by 319 percent while thermometers experience a 47 percent increase in sales. 

Hand sanitizer sales also rose by 73 percent.    

Those stocking up on hand sanitizer tended to add disposable diapers, baby food, baby needs and sanitary protection to their supplies, according to data compiled by Nielsen on the top complementary buys. 

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Shoppers in Miami seen stocking up on water supplies. One gallon per person per day for at least three days is recommended

Shelves in a Miami Costco were bare of disinfecting spray and wipes on Wednesday as shoppers stocked up on supplies 

Coronavirus panic buying in a Walmart store in Miami, Florida, has seen disinfecting wipes being completely sold out

Tinned food has become a must for those setting up their ‘pandemic pantries’ in case of future coronavirus restrictions  

Shoppers in Fairfax, Virginia, stocking up on supplies Wednesday as the confirmed cases of the coronavirus reach 152

Shoppers at Costco in Virginia have joined the massive numbers stocking up amid coronavirus panic in the United States

Food and drink purchases are seeing oat milk, fruit snacks, dried beans, energy beverages, supplements and pretzels coming out on top. 

Despite being recommended by experts, water was only the tenth top product to see a spike in sales in the past month. 

Top ten buys for ‘pandemic pantries’ – increase in February sales

 Oat Milk – 305.5%

Fruit snacks – 12.6%

Pet medicine – 11%

Dried beans – 10.1%

Energy beverages – 10.1%

Bath and shower wipes – 9.5% 

Pretzels – 9%

Supplements – 7.8%

First Aid kits – 6.2%

Water – 5.1% 

Data from Nielsen 

Proud panic buyers showed off their coronavirus haul on social media after the battling the crowds and lucking out to find what they needed in the growing demand.  

The main purchases included tins of soup and beans, ramen noodles, oatmeal, cans of tuna and sardines, pasta, cookies and of course, hand sanitizer.  

‘Just putting a few things away in the quarantine pantry like a normal person,’ one Twitter user wrote.  

According to Ready.gov, a website established by the Department of Homeland Security, your perfect emergency kit should include enough to allow you to survive for several days. Many of the items required, including water and maps, are inexpensive and easy to find but could save a life in an emergency situation.  

The kit should be stored in airtight plastic bags and should all fit in one or two easy to carrier containers such as plastic bins or a duffel bag. 

Food purchased should include canned foods, dry mixes and other staples. While the threat of the coronavirus is not so severe that there will be a lack of electricity, the food should also not require refrigeration, cooking, water or special preparation for a general emergency situation.  

Be sure to also include a manual can opener and eating utensils. 

Some stores such as this Home Depot in North Carolina enforced a limit for cleaning products but still sold out

A shopper looks at soap options next to empty shelves that were once filled with anti-bacterial wipes and other cleaning products due to fears of the coronavirus, at a Home Depot in Asheville, North Carolina, on Wednesday

Shoppers in Queens, New York, also lined up in this Target as the number of confirmed cases in New York jumped to six

When stocking foods, it’s important to ensure you purchase foods that you are sure you and your family will eat and to avoid foods that will not make you thirsty as water supply may also be limited. 

The store should include at least three days of perishable food. 

Top recommendations include ready-to-eat canned meats, fruits, vegetables and a can opener, protein or fruit bars, dry cereal or granola, peanut butter, dried fruit, canned juices, non-perishable pasteurized milk, high energy foods, food for infants, and comfort stress foods. 

Water supply should include one gallon of water per person per day for at least three days, for drinking and sanitation. 

Personal hygiene items were among the recommended items shoppers were rushing to purchase on Wednesday 

Shoppers packed their trollies on Wednesday as many people begin to create their ‘pandemic pantry’ against the virus

Empty spaces where the disinfection products like disinfecting wipes should be in a Costco in Miami, Florida