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U.K. dairy protests continue

Dairy producers in the United Kingdom continued their protests over the weekend. Late last week four of the nation’s large food retailers promised to raise the price they pay for milk later this month and through the winter. While a nice gesture, the higher price is still below the cost of production for most U.K. dairy farmers. Absent from last week’s promised increases is the U.K.’s largest retailer Tesco. Tesco has agreed to meet with National Farmers Union representatives but the company says it already pays more than the cost of production to producers.

Perhaps a bitter issue with Tesco are reports the company is importing milk for yogurt, cheese, butter and other dairy products. British Environment Secretary Elizabeth Truss charges less than half the butter and cheese eaten in the U.K. is from British milk. There is a growing push to label U.K. dairy products although there is some question as to whether the government can actually require the labeling. Truss told the Guardian a meeting between ministers and farm leaders on Monday was encouraging.