Salad leaves and citrus fruits could be missing from supermarket shelves as a result of restrictions on UK-France trade, Sainsbury’s has warned.
The supermarket giant said France’s ban on freight hauliers from the UK could affect food supplies but assured customers that crucial Christmas dinner supplies are available and already in the country.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said the ban on accompanied freight is “slightly surprising”.
Thousands of lorries that were meant to travel across the English Channel on Monday have been told to stay away from Kent ports.
HGVs turning up at Dover on Monday morning were greeted with signs saying “French borders closed”, and were being turned away.
Where s the broccoli? - Sainsburyâs says border issues could cause gaps on shelves Salad leaves and citrus fruits could be missing from supermarket shelves as a result of restrictions on UK-France trade, Sainsbury’s has warned. The supermarket giant said France’s ban on freight hauliers from the UK could affect food supplies but assured customers that crucial Christmas dinner supplies are available and already in the country. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said the ban on accompanied freight is “slightly surprising”. Thousands of lorries that were meant to travel across the English Channel on Monday have been told to stay away from Kent ports.
The supermarket told Express.co.uk: We will start to see gaps over the coming days on lettuce, some salad leaves, cauliflowers, brocolli and citrus fruit.
It added it is sourcing everything that it can and is looking into alternative transport for products sourced from Europe.
Sainsbury s stated it hopes the UK and French governments can come to a mutually agreeable solution which prioritises the passage of produce and any other food at the ports.
Despite the shortage warning, the retailer added Christmas food would not be affected.
Sainsbury s: The most popular supermarkets have been revealed (Image: EXPRESS)
READ MORE
Fears Of Fresh Food Shortages Mount As UK Faces Isolation By V?ronique DUPONT
12/21/20 AT 10:26 AM
Britain could face a shortage of fresh produce and greens due to transport chaos at the border as tortuous Brexit talks linger and more countries shut borders after the emergence of a more contagious Covid-19 variant in England.
France on Sunday decided to prevent freight travelling through the key port of Dover, through which 10,000 heavy goods vehicles pass each day.
The decision, initially set to last for 48 hours, caused Britain to bring forward Operation Stack , the contingency plan drawn up to deal with anticipated freight tailbacks on roads around Dover in the event of a no deal Brexit.
Sainsbury s reveal food that could be missing from shelves. (PA/Canva) Sainsbury’s has warned that some products could be missing from shelves in the coming days due to restrictions at ports amid the ongoing border crisis. The warning comes as Boris Johnson is set to hold crisis talks today after France banned lorries from travelling from the UK. With France suspending all traffic from the UK for 48 hours, it raised fears that trade flows could be severely disrupted while passengers across Europe could be left stranded in the final run-up to Christmas. However, the supermarket confirmed food for a traditional Christmas lunch is available and already in the country so disruptions should not affect celebrations this Christmas.