The UK food industry has warned that a Brexit workforce shortage could leave a third of its businesses unviable.
The Food and Drink Federation said: "Our sector faces a rapidly approaching workforce shortage and skills gap."
Its survey of the "farm-to-fork" supply chain said 31% of businesses had already seen EU workers leave the UK.
The FDA's survey was conducted across a wide range of respected trade bodies, including the British Retail Consortium and the National Famers Union.
It added that almost half of those businesses surveyed said EU nationals working in the UK were considering leaving.
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The federation is calling on the government to guarantee the rights of nationals from across the European Economic Area.
Ian Wright, its director-general, said: "It is only a matter of time before the uncertainty reported by businesses results in an irreversible exit of EU workers from these shores.
"Without our dedicated and valued workforce we would be unable to feed the nation."
In April a report by the Commons Environment Food and Rural Affairs Committee said: "Evidence... suggests the current problem is in danger of becoming a crisis if urgent measures are not taken to fill the gaps in labour supply."