Food and drink industry says EU staff exodus will damage economy

Brexit warnings from trade bodies come as businesses across UK struggle to recruit skilled labour

The food and drink industry has issued a warning of significant disruption and economic damage if the government fails to stem the flow of EU nationals leaving the UK.

Nearly a third of British food and drink businesses have had non-UK EU workers leave their employment since last summer's Brexit vote, according to a survey of more than 600 businesses representing nearly a quarter of the food chain's 4 million workforce. Almost half said more planned to leave because of uncertainty about their future.

Related: UK 'sleepwalking' into food insecurity after Brexit, academics say