Four in five Britons worried Iran war will make food more expensive, poll finds

A recent poll reveals that four in five Britons are concerned that the ongoing conflict involving Iran will lead to higher food prices in the UK. The survey, conducted by Opinium, found that 80% of respondents worry about rising grocery costs, while 73% expect the Middle East tensions to push up prices of other consumer goods. The blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has driven up global oil and gas prices, disrupted the fertiliser industry, and increased shipping and distribution expenses, all of which contribute to inflationary pressures on food and other products. UK retailers have urged the government to take urgent action to reduce their energy costs to prevent further price increases being passed on to consumers. Helen Dickinson, chief executive of the British Retail Consortium (BRC), emphasized that the war is escalating costs throughout the supply chain and that families’ concerns are justified. She called on ministers to eliminate non-commodity energy charges, which constitute a significant portion of electricity bills for businesses. Dickinson highlighted that other countries, such as Germany, have already implemented measures to lower electricity costs for companies, and urged the UK government to follow suit rather than using global instability as an excuse for inaction. The cost of living crisis remains a critical political issue, with the poll also showing widespread worry about rising energy bills, fuel prices, and tax increases. The Bank of England has forecast food inflation to rise to 7%, driven by increases in energy and transport costs. Official data indicate that food and non-alcoholic beverage prices rose by 3.7% in the year to March 2026, up from 3.3% the previous month. Retail leaders, including Sainsbury’s chief executive Simon Roberts, have stressed that capping energy prices for retailers should be a government priority to mitigate the impact on consumers amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.