Getty ImagesThe UK could face some food shortages by the summer under a worst case scenario of the Middle East conflict drawn up by government officials.
Staple items such as chicken and pork could run low if a prolonged closure of the Strait of Hormuz reduces domestic supplies of carbon dioxide, which is used in the slaughter of some animals and in food preservation.
A government source told the BBC it was planning for a worst case scenario, which would involve the continued closure of the strait and breakdowns in the domestic supply of carbon dioxide.
The source stressed the planning was not a prediction of what will happen, and did not suggest there would be a lack of food supplies.
Speaking to Sky News on Thursday, Business Secretary Peter Kyle said the availability of carbon dioxide was not a concern for the British economy "at this moment."
"Right now, people should go on as they are," he said.
The boss of Tesco has said there are no issues with food availability after the contingency plans were reported by the Times.
Speaking to reporters as the supermarket chain announced its annual results, Ken Murphy said none of Tesco's growers, suppliers and manufacturers had raised any supply risks so far.
"We are not flagging any issues in our supply chain at this point... we're not seeing any availability issues. We are in very good shape."
Murphy would not comment on what may happen to food prices and said "we don't know what it's going to look like, because clearly this is a volatile, unpredictable situation."
Petrol and diesel prices have soared since the US and Israel launched wide-ranging strikes on Iran on 28 February and Iran effectively shut the Strait of Hormuz - a crucial global waterway for oil and gas transport.
Iran's blockade has led to higher costs globally for fuel and fertiliser, both crucial elements of food production.
Last month, the government decided to shore up the UK's critical carbon dioxide supplies by temporarily restarting the Ensus bioethanol plant after it was mothballed in September.
The plant manufactures bioethanol, which produces CO2, and was shut after the government struck a trade deal with the US to remove a tariff on American ethanol imports into the UK.
Earlier this week the International Monetary Fund warned that the war could plunge the global economy into recession, with the UK set to be the hardest hit of the world's advanced economies.
The National Farmers Union has said that the price of cucumbers and tomatoes could rise over the next six weeks, with the cost of other crops and milk increasing in the next three to six months.
US President Donald Trump has suggested talks aimed at ending the war in Iran could resume this week, after negotiations collapsed at the weekend, prompting the US to blockade Iranian ports.
On Wednesday Chancellor Rachel Reeves said the US made a "mistake" by ending diplomatic negotiations with Iran and entering into military conflict.
