No-deal Brexit threatens UK food supplies

A no-deal Brexit in which the UK crashes out of the EU without an agreement would not only create problems in terms of customs duties and rising prices but may also threaten the UK’s food supplies.

Launching the alarm, the chief executives of the UK’s leading retailers and fast food chains (Sainsbury’s, Asda, Marks & Spencer, the Co-op, Waitrose, Costcutter, KFC UK, Pret a Manger, Lidl and McDonald’s) have written a joint letter to parliament warning of food shortages.

Explaining their concerns, they note that one-third of food products consumed in the UK are imported from Europe.

The situation for fresh and perishable food would be particularly challenging as just-in-time supply chains would suffer significant disruption in the event of a no-deal Brexit (in March, when the UK is due to leave the EU, 90% of lettuces, 80% of tomatoes and 70% of soft fruits are sourced from the EU).