The poultry industry has rowed back on warnings of a turkey shortage over Christmas but said choice will be limited over the coming Christmas season.

The head of the British Poultry Council (BPC) said the COVID-19 and Brexit-linked shortage of butchers had been alleviated after the government bowed to pressure in September by allowing temporary recruitment of 5,500 staff from abroad.

The BPC had estimated that turkey production would be down by 20% this year, potentially threatening the traditional Christmas Day meal.

The British Meat Processors Association told Sky News that birds would likely have to be imported to meet demand – with 10 million consumed by households in a typical year.

It emerged last week that fears of a festive shortage of fresh birds had prompted shoppers to make early purchases of frozen ones.

Data from market researcher Kantar reported by the Office for National Statistics showed that 18% of frozen turkeys either were not available or stock was low as a result of the apparent stockpiling.

But BPC chief executive Richard Griffiths said on Monday: “There will definitely be enough turkeys for Christmas.

“I think there will be a focus on whole birds and very simple crowns and roasts,” he said adding: “This streamlining of our products choice has helped us in terms of overall volume.”

Related posts:

UK air passenger arrivals plunged by 98% at height of pandemic HSBC lines up ex-CBI chief Fairbairn to join board Bitcoin storms past $50,000 for first time as mainstream appeal grows Moonpig revenue set to nearly double with COVID-19 demand Why HSBC is saying ‘au revoir’ to the bulk of its business in France Sunak offloads £1.1bn chunk of state-backed lender NatWest Wetherspoons boss calls for end to lockdowns ‘mayhem’ as chain posts £68m loss Housebuilders ordered to remove ‘unfair’ ground rent hikes Boeing 737 MAX planes face cargo rules over fire-related concerns Manchester United closes in on successor to outgoing chief Woodward Energy networks boss partly blames ‘wind direction’ after thousands cut off by storm Warhammer owner Games Workshop reveals profits hit from surge in costs