Concern about the new corona virus is driving strange flowers: While many Germans storm into the shops to buy groceries, others are shaking their heads in front of empty shelves. Hamster purchases are the dominant topic in German supermarkets. We clarify the most important questions.
Hamster purchases – is that just a panicked reaction?
Even if people with overflowing shopping trolleys full of flour seem strange and perhaps sometimes absurd to us, it can make perfect sense to fill up your personal pantry during times of crisis. However, the focus should not be on panic, but on prevention.
The Federal Office for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief (BBK) has compiled a list of supplies that you should have at home in an emergency. In the event of an emergency, this means less the current spread of corona than a storm, flood or power failure – such events can always ensure that we can no longer get to the supermarket.
Do I have to make hamster purchases?
Nobody can be obliged to hamster, of course – rather it is your own responsibility how full you want to make the pantry or whether you trust that no emergency will occur. The BBK therefore expressly only makes recommendations as to what you should have at home and makes it clear: "If and how much you provide for is a personal decision."
Hamster purchases: should I buy everything at once?
If you want to top up your supplies right away, it might make sense to do a bulk purchase. However, if you feel uncomfortable standing at the checkout with a shopping cart full of pasta and potatoes, you can now take two more items with each purchase to gradually fill your warehouse.
Hamster Purchases List – What Should I Have At Home?
For emergencies, the BKI has compiled a checklist that not only consists of food, but also of other helpful items that can be useful in an emergency. We have compiled the official recommendations for a period of 10 days per person here:
Food
- Drinks: 20 liters
- Cereals and cereal products (potatoes, rice, pasta, bread): 3.5 kg
- Vegetables, legumes in cans or in a glass: 4 kg
- Canned fruit or glass, nuts: 2.5 kg
- Milk, milk products: 2.6 kg
- Fish, meat and eggs (alternatively: durable whole egg powder): 1.5 kg
- Fats, oils: 0.357 kg
other foods as desired, for example: sugar, sweetener, honey, jam, chocolate, iodized salt, ready meals (e.g. ravioli, dried tortellini, ready-made soups), potato dry products (e.g. mashed potatoes), flour, instant broth, cocoa powder, hard biscuits , Pretzel Sticks
Selection of useful items
- First aid kit
- Medication
- Painkiller
- Disinfectant
- Medical thermometer
- tweezers
- Soap
- toothbrush
- Kitchen paper
- Toilet paper
- Household gloves
- Candles, tea lights
- Matches, lighter
- flashlight
- Batteries
Note: The official list for disasters (earthquakes, floods, etc.) includes additional items such as a camping toilet or a battery-powered radio.
Would you like to exchange information about stocks and hamster purchases with others? Then have a look at the BRIGITTE community, where there is already a lot of discussion about the topic.