Food banks, lunch clubs and homeless hostels are among the services that may run out of food after a no-deal Brexit, 15 charities have warned in a letter to the Prime Minister.
An inflation boom and disruption to supplies from Europe could see donations to food aid charities quickly dry up, the letter cautions, with hostels, women’s refuges and elderly people’s lunch clubs said to also be at risk.
Theresa May must set up a food crisis fund and immediately issue councils and charities with advice on how to cope should Britain crash out of the EU on March 29, the letter, shared exclusively with HuffPost UK, adds.
It has been signed by The Trussell Trust, Church Action on Poverty, FareShare and School Food Matters, among others.
Kath Dalmeny, chief executive of food and farming groups alliance Sustain, and the author of the letter, points out that last year the Trussell Trust gave out over 1.3 million three-day emergency food supplies at 1,200 food banks.
Meanwhile, FareShare redistributed 36.7 million meals’ worth of surplus food to homeless hostels, children’s breakfast clubs, lunch clubs for the elderly and domestic violence refuges.
“Such food services and supplies are at risk from a no-deal Brexit,” the letter reads.
It also warns that children, hospital patients and people in care who are fed by public sector institutions need certainty over access to fresh food.
“Food price inflation caused by a no-deal Brexit is likely to affect these people,
and the services providing food to support them, disproportionately,” says Dalmeny.
Dalmeny goes on to say the PM must treat vulnerable people “as a priority” and make “detailed plans” for organisations to cope with food disruption.
While the UK is about 60% self-sufficient on its own food, the charities fear price rises could impact third sector organisations and lead to fewer donations.
The government is communicating with local authorities on preparations for a no-deal Brexit via groups known as ‘local resilience forums’ made up of council chiefs.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is recruiting for an EU Exit Emergencies Centre (EUXE) which will run 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to manage “any situations that arise if the UK leaves the European Union without a deal”.
Food manufacturers have also been preparing for a no-deal by stockpiling ingredients.
In the letter copied to all Cabinet ministers, Dalmeny continues: “Local authorities and the voluntary sector are already over-stretched and would be unlikely to have the resources and influence to secure adequate food for those in the sort of disruption to continuity of food supply and significant price increases that look possible in the event of a no-deal Brexit.”
When approached about the letter, a government spokeswoman said departments had “prepared responsibly” for the possibility of no deal.
She said: “The Government is fully committed to leaving the EU with a deal. We have, however, prepared responsibly for all eventualities.
“Half of the food that we eat is produced on our shores, and we are working closely with industry and suppliers to minimise the potential impact of a no deal Brexit and put contingency plans in place.”
The letter in full
