Storm over food warning

[QQ]Action 2000 boss Gwynneth Flower walked into a controversy last week when she warned British families to hoard food for the millennium, writes Dan Sabbagh.[QQ] The warning provoked a string of denials that the grocery industry was facing millennium bug meltdown.[QQ] Advice from the head of the government's bug-busting body to keep the larder full of mince pies over the millennium's long holiday period became confused with 'apocalypse soon' warnings of computer-created famine.[QQ] Everyone took the opportunity to issue a statement. Top grocer Tesco described the warning as unhelpful, and the Cabinet Office said it was 'surprised' at the report. It issued a joint statement of denial - interestingly, not in Flower's name - with Action 2000 saying: 'Consumers do not need to stockpile food.'[QQ] Robin Guenier, head of pressure group Taskforce 2000, took the opportunity to criticise the government. 'Nothing is likely to cause more public alarm than lack of clarity from government,' he said.[QQ] Damping down public fears over the bug will become a key task for government and business next year.[QQ] The Cabinet Office said it is in discussions as to whether or not a public reassurance campaign will be necessary, adding it would be 'highly likely'.