Supermarkets will run out of fresh turkeys made in the USA this Christmas. MPs have been informed that they will be importing turkeys from France or Poland.
Industry leaders claim it is evidence that there is a larger crisis in the food supply chain due to a chronic shortage of workers.
The UK’s farmers decided to have fewer chicks this season because they knew there wouldn’t be enough staff to handle them.
In evidence to an inquiry by MPs on the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee, chairman of the British Poultry Council, Graeme Dear, said there was a ‘likelihood’ there will be a shortage of UK turkeys for Christmas.
British farms have raised around 20% fewer birds this year.
Industry leaders claim that there is a ‘likelihood’ there will be a shortage UK turkeys this Christmas.
The Government recently announced that it would allow in 5,500 poultry plant workers with short-term visas. However, this was too late for turkey production.
Mr Dear said: ‘The irony is we may find ourselves having to import turkey from France and Poland for a British Christmas, probably with some of the very workers we trained and left to go back to their homelands.’
Industry leaders believe that the crisis was caused by a combination Brexit and strict immigration controls.
Tom Bradshaw, of the National Farmers’ Union, said the organisation has been involved in constant battles with the Home Office over the need to allow in more foreign workers.
A scheme for seasonal workers allows for around 30,000 foreign workers to work in the UK harvest. However, NFU believes this should be increased to between 50,000 and 60,000.
Mr Bradshaw said: ‘The food waste we are seeing at a farm level…is completely inexcusable.’