Food industry warns of worker shortage as Brexit bites

The UK food and drink industry has warned of a shortage of workers in the sector due to EU nationals relocating to the continent as a result of Brexit.

According to a survey carried out by the Food and Drink Federation, just under a third (31%) of businesses said they had already lost European workers due to uncertainty regarding their position following the UK’s departure from the bloc. Meanwhile, almost half (47%) of those surveyed said they had EU employees who were considering leaving the UK due the same uncertainty.

The rights of EU nationals in the UK and those of Britons living on the continent are among the key issues at stake in ongoing Brexit negotiations as immigrants on both sides wait on their futures.

Worryingly, 17% of the businesses involved in the survey said they would consider relocating their operations overseas if they had no access to EU workers.

“Food is a matter of national security, so the results of this report are of central concern to businesses across the 'farm to fork' industries,” director general of the FDF said in a statement.

“It is only a matter of time before the uncertainty reported by businesses results in an irreversible exit of EU workers from these shores. This is a scenario that will hurt the UK culturally and economically.”

European workers currently number two million across the UK, with 20% of those employed in the food and drink sector.

Negotiating teams for the EU and the UK are due to meet again shortly for a third round of talks in order to thrash out the key issues relating to Brexit.