EU bans curd cheese from British dairy

The European Union has banned curd cheese made at Lancashire’s Bowland Dairy Products in England because of food safety infractions.

“There was evidence that raw milk containing antibiotic residue or contaminated with substances such as detergents and dyes was being used to make curd cheese,” said EU spokesman Philip Tod in Brussels.

“There was also evidence that out-of-date milk collected from retail establishments was being used, as well as mouldy and contaminated cheese known as floor waste.”

The EU head office also said Bowland curd cheese currently sitting in stores was ordered to be destroyed.

An inspection of Bowland on June 9 found the violations and the EU Commission said it warned British authorities soon afterward, demanding they force the dairy to follow EU food safety rules as well as keeping the contaminated cheese from the market.

A follow-up inspection in September found that those demands had been ignored.

EU inspections of all British dairies are scheduled to begin in November.

Commission action against Britain could come as soon as next week.