No panic buying of meat in UK despite cattle disease

By Nigel Hunt

LONDON (Reuters) - There has been no panic buying of meat in Britain despite a nationwide ban on livestock movements following an outbreak of foot and mouth disease, retailers said on Monday.

"We've got contingency plans but stock levels are looking good at the moment," a spokeswoman for retailer ASDA, a unit of Wal-Mart Stores, said.

Britain imposed a ban on all livestock movement, including transport to abattoirs, after a strain of the disease was confirmed in a herd in Surrey in southern England on Friday.

"If we are not able to slaughter livestock within a week it will become increasingly difficult to source British product," Stuart Roberts, Director of the British Meat Processors Association, said in a statement.

Strong demand for meat was seen over the weekend but it did not reflect stockpiling by consumers sparked by fears of a possible shortage, the ASDA spokeswoman said.

"It wasn't panic buying as we didn't see people buying large volumes in one transaction. People were just buying burgers and sausages and steaks for the barbecue," she said.

Tesco also downplayed concerns.

"We don't see any particular problem. We have a robust supply chain," a spokesman said.