3:02 PM - Sep 14, 2000 (Updated 3:04 PM - Sep 14, 2000) EDT Fuel protests force some British supermarkets to ration food by Darcy Maulsby While fuel protests in Britain are winding down, supermarkets continue to feel the effects of the crisis, as some grocers shelves remain empty.

The protests, which were targeted to cut fuel taxes, also disrupted delivery networks throughout Britain. Industry leaders said the complex logistical operations that keep move food supplies from producers to distributors to supermarkets may not return to normal for three more weeks.

Supermarkets have felt the effects of the fuel protests in a number of ways. Some stores reported that their sales jumped 300 percent as consumers panicked and bought mass quantities of staples, including bread and vegetables, before fuel supplies ran out. Checkouts were also flooded with people who feared that other peoples panic purchases would empty the shelves.

Many supermarkets were forced to use rationing systems to deal with the situation. Some Tesco stores restricted customers to three loaves of bread each, while one Safeway store allowed just one loaf per customer.

Getting the food delivery system moving again will not happen overnight, say British officials. Tanker trucks have to start moving, and fuel pumps must be replenished, before grocery store shelves can be restocked. Until then, officials said it will be difficult to gauge the full extent of the impact this weeks fuel crisis on Britains food industry.

While fuel protests are abating in Britain, protests in Germany are heating up. Reuters news service reported that thousands of farmers, truckers and taxi drivers jammed traffic in two German cities today, and oil refineries were hit in nationwide protests over rising fuel prices.

About 100 farmers temporarily blockaded the main entrance to one plant near the Dutch border, causing oil tankers to line up for several miles.

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-- Martin Thompson (mthom1927@aol.com), September 15, 2000