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Tesco promises to use only British milk in its own-brand yoghurt Tesco promises to use only British milk in its own-brand yoghurt
(about 1 hour later)
Tesco has agreed to use more British milk in its dairy products in another victory for farmers in their battle against supermarkets over treatment of suppliers. Tesco has agreed to use more British milk in its dairy products in another victory for farmers in their battle with supermarkets over treatment of suppliers.
Britain’s biggest retailer has bowed to pressure and pledged that all its own-brand yoghurt will be produced with domestic milk from March 2016. Tesco currently uses milk from Germany in its yoghurts.Britain’s biggest retailer has bowed to pressure and pledged that all its own-brand yoghurt will be produced with domestic milk from March 2016. Tesco currently uses milk from Germany in its yoghurts.
The pledge from Tesco follows a meeting with Farmers For Action (FFA), the campaign group, and the National Farmers Union (NFU).The pledge from Tesco follows a meeting with Farmers For Action (FFA), the campaign group, and the National Farmers Union (NFU).
On Sunday, demonstrators blockaded a Tesco distribution centre in Avonmouth, Gloucestershire, in protest at the amount of milk the company imports from outside Britain for use in dairy products.On Sunday, demonstrators blockaded a Tesco distribution centre in Avonmouth, Gloucestershire, in protest at the amount of milk the company imports from outside Britain for use in dairy products.
Aldi, Lidl, Asda and Morrisons agreed last week to increase the amount they pay for milk after farmers blockaded distribution centres and brought cows into supermarkets in protest at the price they were receiving. Aldi, Lidl, Asda and Morrisons agreed last week to increase the amount they pay for milk after farmers blockaded distribution centres and brought cows into supermarkets in protest at the price they were receiving. The average farmgate price of milk - the wholesale price paid to farmers - is 23.66p per litre, below the estimated cost of production of 30p per litre.
The NFU has warned there is a state of emergency in farming due to a 25% fall in the farmgate price of milk in the past year.The NFU has warned there is a state of emergency in farming due to a 25% fall in the farmgate price of milk in the past year.
Elizabeth Truss, the environment secretary, said this week that supermarkets should label clearly whether their fresh food was from Britain and agree long-term contracts with farmers. This would help to promote food that has originated in Britain and provide more stability to farmers.Elizabeth Truss, the environment secretary, said this week that supermarkets should label clearly whether their fresh food was from Britain and agree long-term contracts with farmers. This would help to promote food that has originated in Britain and provide more stability to farmers.
Speaking after an emergency meeting with farming leaders on Monday, Truss claimed that less than half the butter and cheese eaten in Britain was made from British milk.Speaking after an emergency meeting with farming leaders on Monday, Truss claimed that less than half the butter and cheese eaten in Britain was made from British milk.
David Handley, chairman of the FFA, said the meeting with Tesco was very positive. The retailer had provided “categorical assurance” that by March 2016 its own-brand yoghurts would be made with British milk, he said, while further talks would be held on 2 September about the company’s labelling of cheese. Protests against Tesco will be postponed while the talks take place.David Handley, chairman of the FFA, said the meeting with Tesco was very positive. The retailer had provided “categorical assurance” that by March 2016 its own-brand yoghurts would be made with British milk, he said, while further talks would be held on 2 September about the company’s labelling of cheese. Protests against Tesco will be postponed while the talks take place.
The FFA is scheduled to hold talks with Asda on Thursday about the amount of lamb it is importing from New Zealand.The FFA is scheduled to hold talks with Asda on Thursday about the amount of lamb it is importing from New Zealand.
A Tesco spokesman said: “Members of our dairy team had a constructive meeting with representatives from the FFA and NFU, as part of our collaborative approach with famers and growers in British agriculture.A Tesco spokesman said: “Members of our dairy team had a constructive meeting with representatives from the FFA and NFU, as part of our collaborative approach with famers and growers in British agriculture.
“We listened to the concerns they put forward, updated them on our current plans and are committed to build on the progress we have already made to help support the British dairy industry.”“We listened to the concerns they put forward, updated them on our current plans and are committed to build on the progress we have already made to help support the British dairy industry.”
European agriculture ministers are due to meet next month to discuss the slide in dairy prices – caused by a supply glut underpinned by a decline in demand from China and a Russian ban on western milk imports. Truss has said she will push for the creation of a new futures and insurance market in dairy products that could shield farmers from price fluctuations.European agriculture ministers are due to meet next month to discuss the slide in dairy prices – caused by a supply glut underpinned by a decline in demand from China and a Russian ban on western milk imports. Truss has said she will push for the creation of a new futures and insurance market in dairy products that could shield farmers from price fluctuations.
The environment secretary also plans to set up a working group to discuss how contracts between farmers, dairy processors and supermarkets can be overhauled to share the burden of volatile movements in commodity prices.The environment secretary also plans to set up a working group to discuss how contracts between farmers, dairy processors and supermarkets can be overhauled to share the burden of volatile movements in commodity prices.