Butter prices on spot commodity markets have reached record highs in recent weeks causing panic in the supply chain.

Ray Ryan looks back over the proud tradition of Dairymaid, a quality butter whose roots run as deep as Ireland’s oldest butter markets.

So when is butter not butter? Sometimes, when it is actually labelled butter, it seems.

Truly Irish Country Foods has secured a listing in 60 Tesco Ireland stores for creamery butter produced by traditional churning — the same method which has been used for centuries on Irish farms.