TV chef Jamie Oliver has called British youth “wet behind the ears”, saying European immigrants are much “tougher” workers.
The star, 38, said all of his restaurants would shut immediately if he had to find only British staff.
Oliver recently sparked controversy when he said he found it “hard to talk about modern-day poverty”, citing families forking out on giant TVs instead of healthy food.
Now he has said: “The average working hours in a week was 80 to 100. That was really normal in my twenties. But the EU regulation now is 48 hours, which is half a week’s work for me. And they still whinge about it.
“British kids particularly I have never seen anything so wet behind the ears.
“I have mummies phoning up for 23-year-olds saying to me, ‘My son is too tired’. On a 48-hour week. Are you having a laugh?”
He added “I think our European immigrant friends are much stronger, much tougher.
“If we didn’t have any, all of my restaurants would close tomorrow. There wouldn’t be any Brits to replace them.”
Oliver said: “It’s all very well when people are slagging off immigration and I’m sure there are problems.
“Older people always complain about youth and I think it’s a good thing because it is always changing.
“The young will be better at different things. But long hours in hot kitchens is not one of them.”
Oliver recently said most of the poorest families in Britain were choosing expensive rather than cheap food.
The campaigning chef, who has fought to improve school dinners, added: “I’m not judgmental, but I’ve spent a lot of time in poor communities and I find it quite hard to talk about modern-day poverty.”