Prophet-cartoon crisis cost dairy group €53.6m

Scandinavian dairy group Arla Foods today said the boycott of its products in the Middle East sparked by the Prophet Mohammed cartoons had cost the company about €53.6m in 2006.

The group said its sales in the Middle East and north Africa have rebounded in recent months, reaching 60% of levels before the boycott, which started in Saudi Arabia in January and spread to other Arab countries.