Supermarkets say no to milk from Nocton

Leading UK supermarkets will refuse to buy milk from Nocton Dairies, letters sent to former MP, Eric Martlew, can reveal.

Responses generated from a letter sent by Mr Martlew to the supermarkets earlier this year, disclosed Sainsbury’s, Tesco’s, M&S, Morrisons’ and Waitrose, would all reject plans to accept milk produced by Nocton Dairies.

While this will be a massive blow to the Lincolnshire farm, it is in line with consumer opinion, with most supermarkets rejecting the milk on animal welfare grounds.

Sainsbury’s said it had no plans to source dairy products from the farm because they favoured food raised to high welfare standards, with Tesco also outlining animal welfare as its top priority.

M&S said it was its policy for “all ruminant animals to have access to grazing when possible’, with Morrisons saying it would consider all evidence when such a business does go into production.

Waitrose went as far to say “it represents the first step along the way towards an American approach to farming, much of which is highly industrialised,” according to a report in the Independent at the weekend.

The World Society for the Protection of Animals, who accessed the supermarket responses, are now contacting other leading supermarkets for a response.

•For more industry responses on super dairies visit www.fwi.co.uk/superdairy