If there was going to be a food shortage in a big city which could not be stopped... Would the government tell people that there is going to be a food shortage?

If there was going to be a food shortage in a big city which could not be stopped... Would the government tell people that there is going to be a food shortage? IMO, they wouldn't because this would cause panic buying by some which would make it happen even faster. I think they would just use some other excuse and find ways to reduce average consumption to make people last as long as possible on the limited supply and hope that the situation improves.