FOOD SHORTAGES COULD begin to appear in the UK within two weeks of a no-deal Brexit, a food industry representative has warned.
Speaking before the UK Parliament’s Exiting the European Union Committee today, the Food and Drink Federation’s chief operating officer Tim Rycroft said that “because of the short shelf life, stockpiling has a limited ability to mitigate the impact” of food shortages in the event of a no-deal Brexit.
In April, the UK and EU agreed a flexible Brexit extension until 31 October following marathon talks in Brussels. If an agreement is not met by then, the UK will leave the EU with no deal.
“Probably immediately after a no deal exit you probably wouldn’t see very much difference in the first two weeks,” Rycroft said.
Rycroft added that other more “obscure” items would also face shortages in the event of a no-deal.
“We don’t have enough milk powder processing capability in this country and that goes into a lot of products like confectionary and infant formula,” Rycroft said.
“We don’t grow enough high protein wheat in this country, we tend to rely on a lot of imported wheat for bread.”
He told the committee that such food shortages “might go on for several weeks and potentially months” following a no-deal exit from the EU.
Speaking before the UK Parliament’s Exiting the European Union Committee today, the Food and Drink Federation’s chief operating officer Tim Rycroft said that “because of the short shelf life, stockpiling has a limited ability to mitigate the impact” of food shortages in the event of a no-deal Brexit.
In April, the UK and EU agreed a flexible Brexit extension until 31 October following marathon talks in Brussels. If an agreement is not met by then, the UK will leave the EU with no deal.
“Probably immediately after a no deal exit you probably wouldn’t see very much difference in the first two weeks,” Rycroft said.
After that, I think you would probably start to see some shortages particularly around things like fresh fruit and vegetables.
So, fresh fruit and vegetables, but also things like chicken products, where we produce a lot of chickens in this country but they are sent to the EU for processing and then reimported.
So, fresh fruit and vegetables, but also things like chicken products, where we produce a lot of chickens in this country but they are sent to the EU for processing and then reimported.
“We don’t have enough milk powder processing capability in this country and that goes into a lot of products like confectionary and infant formula,” Rycroft said.
“We don’t grow enough high protein wheat in this country, we tend to rely on a lot of imported wheat for bread.”
He told the committee that such food shortages “might go on for several weeks and potentially months” following a no-deal exit from the EU.
Food shortages could appear in UK within two weeks of Brexit no-deal, experts warn
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