UK protests target imports of Irish cheese

Dairy farmers in the UK have targeted Irish cheese in their campaign against falling milk prices.

In last week’s Farmers For Action-organised protest, hundreds of UK dairy farmers blockaded an Adams Foods cheese factory in Leek, Staffordshire. The Irish Dairy Board subsidiary was targeted because the farmers say cheese imports from Ireland and other countries are “undercutting” British dairy farmers.

The demonstration was part of the FFA-backed campaign against processors and retailers, after UK farm-gate milk prices fell by about 25% in recent months. According to FFA chairman David Handley, a dairy farmer from South Wales, one UK retailer which was selling 2,500 tonnes of British quality cheese has replaced it with Irish cheese.