London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Thursday, Sep 03, 2026

Which food prices will be increased by Brexit?

Which food prices will be increased by Brexit?

As of January 1, Britain stops adhering to European Union rules following Brexit – which means new rules on everything from European flights to what we eat are on the way.

The terms are still under negotiation, so it is not yet known what the changes will be.

However, it is possible that Brexit will have an impact on our food shop prices – as 26% of the food eaten in the UK comes from EU countries, according to gov.uk.

But why would food prices change, and what foods could be affected?

Why would food prices change because of Brexit?


Though the UK left the EU on January 31 2020, no major changes were made to the way trade worked between the two parties.

Those changes will come into play on January 1 2021, after a series of negotiation talks between Prime Minister Boris Johnson and EU officials.


Could the price of fruit increase due to Brexit?


The changes involve significant import taxes (tariffs) from both sides, which would be required by the World Trade Organisation (WTO) – unless the UK and EU agree a trade deal to carry on without tariffs in the coming days.

This higher cost of import means that the price of the foods would also increase.

Which foods will go up in price because of Brexit?


If a deal isn’t agreed, and WTO rules come into place, it’s likely certain products in our supermarkets will become slightly more expensive.

It’s still speculation at the moment, but here’s what that could look like:

Pork, bacon and beef – slightly more expensive bacon is a possibility in the event of a ‘no-deal’ scenario.

Brie – Tesco chair John Allan recently suggested that brie prices could rise by 40% if import taxes are implemented.

Fruit and veg – unbranded products from the EU could see a price rise of 12.5%, depending on what happens during trade negotiations, according to the BBC.


Chicken, fruit and veg prices are thought to be affected by tariffs


Halloumi or Roquefort cheese – these cheeses could be 55% more expensive, according to the London School of Economics.

Fresh chicken – tariffs could reach 12p per chicken, according to Which? That doesn’t necessarily mean customers will pay 12p extra, though.

Will any food prices drop because of Brexit?


Even if a deal IS agreed, it’s highly unlikely any prices on EU food products will drop.

The London School of Economics estimates that with a variety of other costs adding up, there’ll be a 4.7% price rise on unbranded products from the EU.

That said, as new trade deals with non-EU countries roll in, anything could happen.

Just remember that cheaper doesn’t always equal better – especially as extremely low prices might be devastating competition for UK farmers, who currently supply around 50% of the country’s food.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Eleven British Seafarers Receive Merchant Navy Medal
Which? Creates Fake 10 Downing Street Rental Listing to Expose Booking.com Vetting Weaknesses
BP Appoints New Chairman in Effort to Stabilise Leadership
Aberdeen Sells Hydrogen Bus Fleet at Heavy Loss After Green Transport Experiment
UK Records Hottest Summer on Record as Climate Change Intensifies Extreme Heat
Scotland Pledges to End Temporary Accommodation for Children and Build 111,000 Affordable Homes
DNO Agrees $396 Million Deal to Acquire Capricorn Energy
Uber and Wayve Launch UK’s First Supervised Autonomous Ride-Hailing Service in London
Britain Expected to Avoid New US Tariffs Targeting European Union
Middle East Conflict Pushes UK Energy Costs Higher and Revives Inflation Concerns
UK Growth Forecast Cut to 1% Through 2027 as Youth Unemployment Is Projected to Rise
Andy Burnham Links Weak UK Growth to Brexit in First Full Commons Session as Prime Minister
Keir Starmer Resigns as MP, Triggering Holborn and St Pancras By-Election
UK Business Confidence Improves but Remains Deeply Negative
Aberdeen Hydrogen Bus Sale Recovers Just Six Pence for Every Pound Invested
Which? Exposes Booking.com Verification Failures With Fake 10 Downing Street Listing
British Business Bank Invests Up to £46 Million in Deep-Tech Startup Fund
Scottish Government Puts Violence Against Women at Center of Legislative Program
FCA Eases UK IPO Rules to Strengthen London’s Listing Market
UK Likely to Avoid Next US Tariff Measures as Washington Targets EU
Macron Visits UK for Bayeux Tapestry Exhibition and Border Security Talks
British Chambers of Commerce Cuts UK Growth Outlook to 1% for 2026 and 2027
Keir Starmer Resigns as MP for Holborn and St Pancras, Triggering By-Election
Prime Minister Andy Burnham Unveils Devolution and Cost-of-Living Agenda
UK Borrowing Costs Surge as 30-Year Gilt Yield Reaches 5.88%
Cleveland Police Receive £2 Million to Tackle Serious Crime in Middlesbrough
Number of Young People in England Without a Close Friend Reaches Record Level
Five Arrested After Newborn Baby Dies From Stab Wounds in Sheffield
Nigel Farage Faces Questions Over Reported Second Parliamentary Standards Investigation
UK Retirement Funding Requirement Rises by £64,000 Compared With 2021
UK House Prices Rise for First Time Since April, Nationwide Says
FCA Chief Faces Allegations of Intimidating Consumer Group Over £9 Billion Car Loan Inquiry
Scottish Government Presses Ahead With Cap on Essential Food Prices
Burnham Government Moves to Overhaul Early Prison Release Scheme
UK Records Hottest Summer on Record in 2026, Met Office Says
UK Government Announces Major Reset of Diplomatic Policy Towards Israel
UK Pushes Back After Trump Reopens Falkland Islands Sovereignty Dispute
Keir Starmer Resigns as MP, Triggering Holborn and St Pancras By-Election
Andy Burnham Blames Brexit for UK’s Decade of Weak Growth in First Commons Address
England Faces Renewed Scrutiny Over Sewage Discharges and Water Quality
Victoria Beckham Business Reports First Operating Profit Since Launch
BT Expects £2 Billion From Copper Sales During Full-Fibre Rollout
UK Train Drivers Secure 3.6% Pay Rise and Avert Strike Action
FCA Chief Faces Scrutiny Over Alleged Pressure on Consumer Group in Car Finance Case
Kemi Badenoch Names Andrew Griffith Shadow Chancellor in Conservative Reshuffle
UK House Prices Rise for First Time Since April
UK Shop-Price Inflation Accelerates to 1.5% in August
Met Office Data Point to Hottest UK Summer on Record
UK Announces Emergency Prison Release Measures and £110 Million Capacity Expansion
UK Launches Expanded Free School Meals and 1,400 Breakfast Clubs
×