German supermarket chains are calling on consumers to stop buying in bulk as the war in Ukraine spooks shoppers into stockpiling certain items.

The German Food and Beverage Industry Federation, which represents the country's major food retailers, has said the country has enough food reserves to withstand major supply disruptions stemming from the conflict. 

"In the last few weeks, we have seen a rise in panic buying. We consider this practice completely unfounded because the security of our food supplies is guaranteed. We currently see no cause for concern," said Managing Director Steanie Sabet. 

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Many supermarkets have placed purchase limits on certain items like flour and cooking oil as a way to slow down the stockpiling. 

The rising cost of energy is also contributing to growing concerns about the broader cost-of-living in Europe's biggest economy. 

Despite increased international pressure, the German government is resisting calls for a complete boycott of Russian oil and gas, citing the economic impact such a move would have on households and industry. 

Over 40 percent of Germany's gas imports come from Russia, leaving decision-makers worried about how a boycott would affect the country's energy security. 

"I'm not so sure if German society is actually willing to risk undermining its current lifestyle," said Christian Schweiger, a political scientist at Chemnitz University of Technology. 

"I fear that Germany will continue with its hesitant stance. It won't be a vote winner for any government to say 'we are doing things that might affect your lifestyle or the quality of your living conditions' because people in Germany tend to be very economically focused." 

Ukraine conflict threatens global food supplies

While the domestic political debate over food and energy security takes place in Germany, there's mounting concern about how the conflict in Ukraine will affect parts of the developing world that rely on the country more heavily for their food supplies. 

NGOs say that a prolonged conflict could lead to famine in many parts of the globe where, unlike Europe, large silos of food reserves aren't common. 

The UN's World Food Program has warned the ramifications of the crisis in Ukraine will likely ripple well beyond the region – noting that Russia and Ukraine alone account for 30 percent of global wheat trade. 

With many of those shipments held up because of the situation in Ukraine, many countries are now desperately trying to find other sources to backfill lost supplies – which, in turn, pushes up prices.

It's a dangerous cycle the UN has warned could lead to a humanitarian disaster well beyond Ukraine's borders, as some of the world's poorest nations struggle to deal with expected food shortages.