LONDON (Reuters) - The Food and Beverages Association of Britain warned that the country could face shortages of some fresh food for weeks or months if it leaves the European Union without an agreement.
"We will not go hungry, but there will be a shortage of fresh food and some ingredients," Tim Recroft, head of operations at the Food and Beverage Association, said on Wednesday.
"Taking into account that food is perishable, we expect a shortage of some food items in the weeks or months following the exit from the EU without agreement."
Ahead of the original exit date of the union, which was on March 29, supermarkets and retailers spent millions of pounds to prepare for the exit, including ordering additional stocks of dried goods, water and other goods from European suppliers.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has repeatedly warned the EU that he will lead the country out of the EU on October 31 without an agreement, unless the EU agrees to a new exit deal.