Dairy UK calls for greater cross-party support for cheese and British dairy
Dairy UK has called for greater cross-party support for the British dairy industry.
Speaking at the All Party Parliamentary Cheese Group Reception in London on Wednesday, Dairy UK’s Chief Executive Judith Bryans said that information about dairy products is often misleading and ill-informed and urged MPs to support the cheese and dairy industry in a consistent way.
Dr Bryans said “The dairy industry takes the nutritional integrity, safety and environmental impact of its products very seriously. It strives and succeeds to push boundaries in innovation and it’s a confident and vibrant sector.
The mixed signals coming from Government departments lead to confusion and create uncertainty as to how the dairy sector should be developing new markets and promoting growth.
Dairy UK believe that asking the industry to grow on the one hand and knocking the nutritional benefits of much loved products like cheese and yogurt, with their age-old traditions in the UK, on the other, it sends mixed signals to the industry about Government support.
The dairy sector is therefore urging politicians and civil servants to voice their support for dairy and help educate consumers about the unique contribution that cheese and other dairy products make to health the economy and the environment.
Dr Bryans went on to say: “We have received overwhelming support from the British public for the Great British Food that is cheese.
“However more visibility and a stronger support is needed from our politicians for the dairy industry and showing how dairy makes a difference.”
Dr Bryans also revealed that Dairy UK will shortly be launching an initiative called Dairy Makes a Difference which aims to showcase different aspects of the dairy industry.
Dr Bryans went on to explain: “The Dairy Makes a Difference initiative aims to show the public how dairy provides them with a wide range of nutritious foods including milk, cheese and yogurt.”
She added: “Dairy makes a difference as a major industry employing around 25,000 thousand people in the processing and manufacturing sectors with many thousands more involved with dairy farming.
“Dairy makes a difference as an environmentally responsible industry which is committed to sustainability.”
Dan Rogerson MP for North Cornwall added: “It has been a pleasure to serve as the Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Cheese since it was established back in 2005 and I am delighted that my Liberal Democrat colleague Lord Jones of Cheltenham will be taking over as Chair.
“The group acts as an interface between Parliamentarians and the dairy sector, and makes sure that the Government continues to engage with famers, producers and the dairy industry on supporting the sector, promoting the nutritional importance of cheese, and on issues of public health.”
