People who think this thread is hilarious/scaremongeriing might like to read this British Medical Journal extract:
read the whole article here
Brexit and food systems
No deal Brexit will have profound consequences for the UK food system, which is highly integrated with the EU. The effects are likely to include significant disruption to supply chains especially for fruit and vegetables and imported chilled (short shelf life) foods; price increases from a drop in the value of sterling, the imposition of tariffs, and expected additional transport costs; shortage of migrant workers throughout the food system (seasonal harvest workers, food manufacturing, and catering); uncertainty about default reversion to trading on World Trade Organisation terms; disruption of food production that relies on cross-border flows in Ireland; and exclusion from the EU food standards framework, requiring a vast increase in paperwork because of the need for export health certificates, at a time when there will be many fewer qualified people to process them.24 There are also concerns about what the US may demand in negotiations on any trade deal.25
Health implications for consumers on low incomes are likely, and even before Brexit there is concern about rising dependency on foodbanks in the UK.26 Foodbanks and distribution schemes expect worse supplies.27 If disruption to food supply is as extensive as the government’s planning assumption predicts, people on low incomes will be severely affected by expected price rises of 10% (more if sterling drops further).3 Areas far from retail regional distribution centres (wholesale hubs) and local convenience stores are expected to be worst hit, affecting areas that are already disadvantaged.
Local authorities have few legal duties to ensure disadvantaged social groups are fed, with only the Education Act 1996 applying. A guidance note sent to schools suggests: “contact your food supplier(s) if your school procures food directly (or your local authority or academy trust, if they arrange food on the school’s behalf) to ensure they are planning for potential impacts of a no deal scenario.”28 A leaked document suggests that the government has little confidence that these arrangements will work, warning of severe disruption to schools.29
What guidance exists places the burden on local resilience forums set up under the Civil Contingencies Act 2004, which have not been resourced for the enormity of a no deal Brexit. There are deep anxieties among food retailers and within the Cabinet about civil unrest and panic buying, while leaked documents reveal that local authorities are seeking exemption from nutrition guidelines for school meals.30