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General => The Stay Safe Board => Topic started by: Guy Etchells on Thursday 09 April 20 12:03 BST (UK)

Title: Milk being poured away
Post by: Guy Etchells on Thursday 09 April 20 12:03 BST (UK)
I can't believ milk is being poured away due to the covid-19 virus. Here in Wakefield, Morrisons supermarket stopped selling 6 pint bottles of milk in favour of 4 pint bottles, restriction were also put on most food product of two per person.

This of course meant more trips to the supermarket per week to buy milk.

I now read-

Milk crisis talks with environment secretary

11:35 today "Dairy farmers' representatives have called for a crisis meeting with Environment Secretary George Eustice as some start to pour away milk due to collapsing markets.

The National Farmers' Union (NFU) said on Thursday that the survival of many dairy farming businesses depends on urgent government action with at least 2,000 dairy farmers suffering severe financial pressure "and that number is growing by the day".

The union said that the coronavirus crisis had seen the almost complete loss of the food service and hospitality markets, as well as increasing global price volatility.

It said this has led to some dairy farmers with no other option but to dispose of milk on their farms."

If it is being poured away there is no shortage, if it is due to supermarkets policies they should change their policy.

Cheers
Guy
Title: Re: Milk being poured away
Post by: sonofthom on Thursday 09 April 20 12:36 BST (UK)
I totally agree - food should not be thrown away. We have just returned from an abandoned shopping trip due to the huge queues outside our local supermarket. The weather is not too good here today and standing in damp conditions for a lengthy period is not too clever. We were commenting on the way home that with their very restrictive practices it must be impossible for these supermarkets to sell the normal quantity of food. Panic buying seems to have been dealt with but perhaps the next big issue is going to be over limited access to food stocks.

If the current severe lockdown is to be continued beyond this weekend the Government and the food industry need to address this problem.
Title: Re: Milk being poured away
Post by: youngtug on Thursday 09 April 20 12:42 BST (UK)
All the coffee shops are closed, do you know how much milk they used? All that milky coffee, not to mention the cream cakes.
Title: Re: Milk being poured away
Post by: confusion on Thursday 09 April 20 12:52 BST (UK)

In the past 3 weeks, there's been mass food wastage in the UK. Bin men taking photos of household rubbish filled with bread, eggs, meat, etc. An elderly man has died due to starvation because he's had to self isolate and not been able to get essentials. Nurses have not been able to get essentials and food because there's nothing left due to panic buyers. Stupid people holding parties and ignoring social distancing and isolation. A party was broken up last Saturday with 25 adults and children. 3 women holding a party were arrested because they spit on Police. I'm honestly ashamed to be in this country
Title: Re: Milk being poured away
Post by: sonofthom on Thursday 09 April 20 13:50 BST (UK)
Confusion, if you are doing the right thing there is no reason to be ashamed. Every society has its share of sociopaths.
Title: Re: Milk being poured away
Post by: louisa maud on Thursday 09 April 20 14:28 BST (UK)
In my opinion it as sheer greed to panic buy to such an extent, a lot of money has been wasted, peoples own money I might add but nevertheless a waste, I didn't panic by, it all happened a bit to quickly for me, didn't get any shopping slots but we are managing, and we are of the older brigade who was supposed to get shopping slots, we will all come out of this hopefully more sensible when it comes to food buying

Louisa Maud
Title: Re: Milk being poured away
Post by: tillypeg on Thursday 09 April 20 14:54 BST (UK)
Queued for 45 minutes today to get into Morrison's, snaking backwards and forwards along the front and sides of the building, between barriers.  All people very patient, no-one complaining.  We all watched the plant department assistants moving boxes of pansies etc to fill up the gaps on the shelves.  Once inside, there seemed to be no rationing on anything now - even Easter eggs were on BOGOF offer.  Buying groceries for my elderly neighbours has taken me into aisles I never usually venture - the gin aisle, the tonic aisle, the leg of lamb aisle  ;)  Skimmed milk is back on sale having been missing for nearly two weeks (for neighbours, I can't say I like white water). 

Other elderly neighbours drove 20 miles last week to do a "grab and go" collection at an organic farm shop, more for the ride out I think :o  Did that purchase mean the farm shop will stay in business or would it be considered non-essential travel, bearing in mind that there are 3 Co-op shops, Morrison's, Aldi and M&S Simply Food within 3 miles from home?
Title: Re: Milk being poured away
Post by: Guy Etchells on Thursday 09 April 20 15:10 BST (UK)
Queued for 45 minutes today to get into Morrison's, snaking backwards and forwards along the front and sides of the building, between barriers.  All people very patient, no-one complaining.  We all watched the plant department assistants moving boxes of pansies etc to fill up the gaps on the shelves.  Once inside, there seemed to be no rationing on anything now - even Easter eggs were on BOGOF offer.  Buying groceries for my elderly neighbours has taken me into aisles I never usually venture - the gin aisle, the tonic aisle, the leg of lamb aisle  ;)  Skimmed milk is back on sale having been missing for nearly two weeks (for neighbours, I can't say I like white water). 

Other elderly neighbours drove 20 miles last week to do a "grab and go" collection at an organic farm shop, more for the ride out I think :o  Did that purchase mean the farm shop will stay in business or would it be considered non-essential travel, bearing in mind that there are 3 Co-op shops, Morrison's, Aldi and M&S Simply Food within 3 miles from home?

Travel is not essential or non essential if one is travelling for essential items, food, medicines, exercise the travel is allowed, if travel is to admire the scenery, give the car a run etc. the reason is not essential so is banned.

That is set out in Statutory Instrument date 2020 No. 350

"Restrictions on movement

6.—(1) During the emergency period, no person may leave the place where they are living without reasonable excuse.

(2) For the purposes of paragraph (1), a reasonable excuse includes the need—

(a)to obtain basic necessities, including food and medical supplies for those in the same household (including any pets or animals in the household) or for vulnerable persons and supplies for the essential upkeep, maintenance and functioning of the household, or the household of a vulnerable person, or to obtain money, including from any business listed in Part 3 of Schedule 2;

(b)to take exercise either alone or with other members of their household;

(c)to seek medical assistance, including to access any of the services referred to in paragraph 37 or 38 of Schedule 2;

(d)to provide care or assistance, including relevant personal care within the meaning of paragraph 7(3B) of Schedule 4 to the Safeguarding of Vulnerable Groups Act 2006(1), to a vulnerable person, or to provide emergency assistance;

(e)to donate blood;

(f)to travel for the purposes of work or to provide voluntary or charitable services, where it is not reasonably possible for that person to work, or to provide those services, from the place where they are living;

(g)to attend a funeral of—

(i)a member of the person’s household,

(ii)a close family member, or

(iii)if no-one within sub-paragraphs (i) or (ii) are attending, a friend;

(h)to fulfil a legal obligation, including attending court or satisfying bail conditions, or to participate in legal proceedings;

(i)to access critical public services, including—

(i)childcare or educational facilities (where these are still available to a child in relation to whom that person is the parent, or has parental responsibility for, or care of the child);

(ii)social services;

(iii)services provided by the Department of Work and Pensions;

(iv)services provided to victims (such as victims of crime);

(j)in relation to children who do not live in the same household as their parents, or one of their parents, to continue existing arrangements for access to, and contact between, parents and children, and for the purposes of this paragraph, “parent” includes a person who is not a parent of the child, but who has parental responsibility for, or who has care of, the child;

(k)in the case of a minister of religion or worship leader, to go to their place of worship;

(l)to move house where reasonably necessary;

(m)to avoid injury or illness or to escape a risk of harm.

(3) For the purposes of paragraph (1), the place where a person is living includes the premises where they live together with any garden, yard, passage, stair, garage, outhouse or other appurtenance of such premises.

(4) Paragraph (1) does not apply to any person who is homeless."

Cheers
Guy
Title: Re: Milk being poured away
Post by: tillypeg on Thursday 09 April 20 15:32 BST (UK)
Thanks for clarifying, Guy, I won't be the one to tell them!
Title: Re: Milk being poured away
Post by: louisa maud on Thursday 09 April 20 15:48 BST (UK)
I am sure initially we didn't realise how many industries were going to be affected by the virus, there must be many more, very sad for all concerned

I live near a town where one big departmental store might close, if that does the whole town will be affected, we have already lost our M & S

Louisa Maud
Title: Re: Milk being poured away
Post by: ThrelfallYorky on Thursday 09 April 20 16:07 BST (UK)
We've managed always to have a regular doorstep delivery, always have had. One less thing to worry about.
Title: Re: Milk being poured away
Post by: Top-of-the-hill on Thursday 09 April 20 21:10 BST (UK)
  I have always had a doorstep delivery, and have bought a bit extra to freeze, just in case, and also to make yoghurt. My main supply problem has been my regular large tubs of Greek yoghurt, and home-made is just not the same, apart from using up a lot of milk. (Though it sounds as if that will be a good thing!)
Title: Re: Milk being poured away
Post by: Crumblie on Thursday 09 April 20 21:23 BST (UK)
Someone must be throwing all the eggs away as well because they are certainly not getting to the supermarkets near me.
Title: Re: Milk being poured away
Post by: Llwyd on Thursday 09 April 20 21:58 BST (UK)
Unfortunately the source of milk can't be turned off but, due entirely to loss of its markets, the amount of milk being produced is no longer required.
It's a sad, but unavoidable, consequence of what is happening.
However, we must do our best to support our farmers and I would urge everyone to, where possible, to buy British (Welsh/Scottish/ N. Irish) produce.
 :)
Title: Re: Milk being poured away
Post by: philipsearching on Thursday 09 April 20 22:29 BST (UK)
All the coffee shops are closed, do you know how much milk they used? All that milky coffee, not to mention the cream cakes.

As I am not working away from home during the current lockdown I eat fewer snacks (including cream cakes!) but I find myself drinking far more tea and coffee at home than I did when out at work.  My milk intake (in whatever form) is almost certainly higher.

Presumably not everyone is like me, otherwise the demand for milk would not have decreased.

Philip
Title: Re: Milk being poured away
Post by: Guy Etchells on Friday 10 April 20 05:39 BST (UK)
Unfortunately the source of milk can't be turned off but, due entirely to loss of its markets, the amount of milk being produced is no longer required.
It's a sad, but unavoidable, consequence of what is happening.
However, we must do our best to support our farmers and I would urge everyone to, where possible, to buy British (Welsh/Scottish/ N. Irish) produce.
 :)


Yes there has been some loss of market but that has also be made worse by some supermarkets artificially  reducing their sales of milk by cancelling (automatically due to a flaw in the computer controlled order system which has not been bypassed in Morrisons case) what was their normal order of 6 pint bottles of milk.

Cheers
Guy
Title: Re: Milk being poured away
Post by: LizzieL on Friday 10 April 20 09:12 BST (UK)
Queued for 45 minutes today to get into Morrison's, snaking backwards and forwards along the front and sides of the building, between barriers.  All people very patient, no-one complaining.  We all watched the plant department assistants moving boxes of pansies etc to fill up the gaps on the shelves.  Once inside, there seemed to be no rationing on anything now - even Easter eggs were on BOGOF offer.  Buying groceries for my elderly neighbours has taken me into aisles I never usually venture - the gin aisle, the tonic aisle, the leg of lamb aisle  ;)  Skimmed milk is back on sale having been missing for nearly two weeks (for neighbours, I can't say I like white water). 

Other elderly neighbours drove 20 miles last week to do a "grab and go" collection at an organic farm shop, more for the ride out I think :o  Did that purchase mean the farm shop will stay in business or would it be considered non-essential travel, bearing in mind that there are 3 Co-op shops, Morrison's, Aldi and M&S Simply Food within 3 miles from home?

Travel is not essential or non essential if one is travelling for essential items, food, medicines, exercise the travel is allowed, if travel is to admire the scenery, give the car a run etc. the reason is not essential so is banned.

That is set out in Statutory Instrument date 2020 No. 350

"Restrictions on movement

6.—(1) During the emergency period, no person may leave the place where they are living without reasonable excuse.

(2) For the purposes of paragraph (1), a reasonable excuse includes the need—

(a)to obtain basic necessities, including food and medical supplies for those in the same household (including any pets or animals in the household) or for vulnerable persons and supplies for the essential upkeep, maintenance and functioning of the household, or the household of a vulnerable person, or to obtain money, including from any business listed in Part 3 of Schedule 2;

(b)to take exercise either alone or with other members of their household;

(c)to seek medical assistance, including to access any of the services referred to in paragraph 37 or 38 of Schedule 2;

(d)to provide care or assistance, including relevant personal care within the meaning of paragraph 7(3B) of Schedule 4 to the Safeguarding of Vulnerable Groups Act 2006(1), to a vulnerable person, or to provide emergency assistance;

(e)to donate blood;

(f)to travel for the purposes of work or to provide voluntary or charitable services, where it is not reasonably possible for that person to work, or to provide those services, from the place where they are living;

(g)to attend a funeral of—

(i)a member of the person’s household,

(ii)a close family member, or

(iii)if no-one within sub-paragraphs (i) or (ii) are attending, a friend;

(h)to fulfil a legal obligation, including attending court or satisfying bail conditions, or to participate in legal proceedings;

(i)to access critical public services, including—

(i)childcare or educational facilities (where these are still available to a child in relation to whom that person is the parent, or has parental responsibility for, or care of the child);

(ii)social services;

(iii)services provided by the Department of Work and Pensions;

(iv)services provided to victims (such as victims of crime);

(j)in relation to children who do not live in the same household as their parents, or one of their parents, to continue existing arrangements for access to, and contact between, parents and children, and for the purposes of this paragraph, “parent” includes a person who is not a parent of the child, but who has parental responsibility for, or who has care of, the child;

(k)in the case of a minister of religion or worship leader, to go to their place of worship;

(l)to move house where reasonably necessary;

(m)to avoid injury or illness or to escape a risk of harm.

(3) For the purposes of paragraph (1), the place where a person is living includes the premises where they live together with any garden, yard, passage, stair, garage, outhouse or other appurtenance of such premises.

(4) Paragraph (1) does not apply to any person who is homeless."

Cheers
Guy

Is the law saying we are restricted to only going to our nearest shop for food.
Title: Re: Milk being poured away
Post by: mike175 on Friday 10 April 20 09:16 BST (UK)
Our household milk consumption has halved during the lockdown but because of short supply, not lack of demand! We have learnt to manage with less by not making milk puddings or milk based sauces and by eating less breakfast cereal.

All these shortages are short term logistics issues; people will eat much the same quantity of food whether in the home or out. Unfortunately, giant corporations are not as flexible as small business and take longer to change course, but I'm sure they will eventually. Probably just as things are returning to normal and they have to change back again  ::)
Title: Re: Milk being poured away
Post by: Guy Etchells on Friday 10 April 20 09:20 BST (UK)

Is the law saying we are restricted to only going to our nearest shop for food.

No but the public are expected to use their common sense, if a local shop has many customers it is better to travel to a different shop where there is less possibility of close contact with others.

It is about being sensible to protect ourselves and in doing so protecting others.

Cheers
Guy
Title: Re: Milk being poured away
Post by: LizzieL on Friday 10 April 20 09:39 BST (UK)

Other elderly neighbours drove 20 miles last week to do a "grab and go" collection at an organic farm shop, more for the ride out I think :o  Did that purchase mean the farm shop will stay in business or would it be considered non-essential travel, bearing in mind that there are 3 Co-op shops, Morrison's, Aldi and M&S Simply Food within 3 miles from home?

So Tillipeg's neighbours rather than just "going for the ride out" as was assumed, were acting sensibly in avoiding queuing with a lot of other people outside a supermarket and instead choosing to go to a shop where they could rapidly collect their (presumably pre-ordered) groceries, even though it was further from their home.
 
Title: Re: Milk being poured away
Post by: LizzieL on Friday 10 April 20 09:43 BST (UK)
Saw this police spokesman on BBC news this morning, but looks like they have now backed down on checking people's supermarket trolleys

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-northamptonshire-52228475

Title: Re: Milk being poured away
Post by: trystan on Friday 10 April 20 10:19 BST (UK)
I made myself a bowl of semolina for breakfast this morning to "do my bit" to consume more milk. Yes, daft and probably pointless, I know. I don't think I'll be making semolina for breakfast again though!
Title: Re: Milk being poured away
Post by: Guy Etchells on Friday 10 April 20 19:11 BST (UK)
Saw this police spokesman on BBC news this morning, but looks like they have now backed down on checking people's supermarket trolleys

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-northamptonshire-52228475



Yes Northamptonshire's Chief Constable Nick Adderley was exceeding his authority and if his officers checked a supermarket trolley they would be putting the people using that trolley at risk, this means they would be in breach of the coronavirus distancing rules and they would have to fine themselves and indeed arrest themselves if they refused to desist and carried on searching trolleys.

It should also be noted that as of 19 March 2020, COVID-19 is no longer considered to be a high consequence infectious diseases (HCID) in the UK.
Part of the reason for this was to allow Covid-19 to be treated in ordinary hospitals, nursing homes and even in the persons home itself rather than the manditory transfer to an infectious disease hospital.

Cheers
Guy
Title: Re: Milk being poured away
Post by: Llwyd on Friday 10 April 20 20:03 BST (UK)
Unfortunately the source of milk can't be turned off but, due entirely to loss of its markets, the amount of milk being produced is no longer required.
It's a sad, but unavoidable, consequence of what is happening.
However, we must do our best to support our farmers and I would urge everyone to, where possible, to buy British (Welsh/Scottish/ N. Irish) produce.
 :)


Yes there has been some loss of market but that has also be made worse by some supermarkets artificially  reducing their sales of milk by cancelling (automatically due to a flaw in the computer controlled order system which has not been bypassed in Morrisons case) what was their normal order of 6 pint bottles of milk.

Cheers
Guy
Whilst the supermarket problem may have exacerbated the situation the loss of sections of the catering market and the entire hospitality market has been huge and, as I say, the source of milk cannot be switched off; unless, of course, the unacceptable is seen as a solution.
Support British farming - buy British produce.
 :)
Title: Re: Milk being poured away
Post by: ThrelfallYorky on Saturday 11 April 20 16:32 BST (UK)
I'm drinking as much milk as I can! slurp, slop, slosh....
Title: Re: Milk being poured away
Post by: Llwyd on Saturday 11 April 20 16:37 BST (UK)
I'm drinking as much milk as I can! slurp, slop, slosh....

I trust it's British milk!!.
 :)
Title: Re: Milk being poured away
Post by: candleflame on Saturday 11 April 20 16:44 BST (UK)
We've realised just how much milk we do consume and when it was in short supply, we really felt it.
We can't get eggs here and the empty shelf has a ration statement on it, but I'd have thought the hens are still laying ?
Title: Re: Milk being poured away
Post by: ThrelfallYorky on Saturday 11 April 20 16:51 BST (UK)
Llywd, of course it. The cow on the bottle has a yorkshire accent, too.
Seriously, I know what you mean, and - yes it is British.
Title: Re: Milk being poured away
Post by: Llwyd on Saturday 11 April 20 17:08 BST (UK)
Excellent. I must confess I have an interest because I have farming relatives.
 :)
Title: Re: Milk being poured away
Post by: ThrelfallYorky on Saturday 11 April 20 17:09 BST (UK)
So had / have I, and many friends in that line.
Title: Re: Milk being poured away
Post by: River Tyne Lass on Monday 13 April 20 10:58 BST (UK)
It is very sad to read of this plight that the hardworking farmers are experiencing.

It is a shame a big campaign couldn't be launched to encourage the public to use more milk.  Personally, I hate milk on its own but would be willing to buy more to use in recipes, such as quiches, rice puddings and buy more milk based products. etc.

Perhaps if there was such a campaign all of us together buying more would surely add up and help the farmers get through this worrying time? 
Such a waste and how awful to have to pour their milk down the drain.   :-\
Title: Re: Milk being poured away
Post by: ThrelfallYorky on Monday 13 April 20 16:08 BST (UK)
A good chunk of the problem is the low prices supermarkets pay for the milk. Neighbours who buy plastic containers of milk pay tiny fractions of what I pay - and have always paid - for my valued doorstep deliveries. Just glad I can afford to do it.
TY
Title: Re: Milk being poured away
Post by: josey on Monday 13 April 20 16:18 BST (UK)
Absolutely TY. We have been having doorstop delivery of milk & eggs from a Glasgow based firm for several years; they assure us that the milk itself is from local farmers who get a fair price as there is no middle man. And yes we pay more but if it goes to the farmers that's fine by us and supermarket milk is far too subsidised with the farmer's who work so hard getting hardly anything for their time. . The deliveries have always been on time & through all sorts of weather. I don't think the firm were able to take any new customers when the demand for home delivery went up last month so pleased we were established customers. Mr Josey grew up on a general farm which had dairy cows amongst other things, also his school had a home farm, so he is a milk fiend; we have 4 x 4 pints let's get modern 2 L a week for 2 of us.
Title: Re: Milk being poured away
Post by: ThrelfallYorky on Monday 13 April 20 16:25 BST (UK)
As I lived there, I was brought up on raw untreated milk! People today would be amazed we survived, but apart from the threat of unfortunate things like tuberculosis and brucellosis, we all did!
Let's hear it for the Milkmen of Britain!!
TY
Title: Re: Milk being poured away
Post by: suey on Monday 13 April 20 17:21 BST (UK)
I made myself a bowl of semolina for breakfast this morning to "do my bit" to consume more milk. Yes, daft and probably pointless, I know. I don't think I'll be making semolina for breakfast again though!

What did you put with Trystan, semolina on its own is a bit bland, you need a good dollop of something sweet with it.  Strawberry jam is my preference.
Title: Re: Milk being poured away
Post by: andrewalston on Monday 13 April 20 17:34 BST (UK)
We are very lucky to live in an area where the chain of suppliers for food can be very short.

I still get my eggs from my usual supplier. There's a cupboard with a perspex door, and you put your money in the honesty box, then check that none of the hens have wandered under your car. Sometimes the eggs are still warm. Much superior to a supermarket where "New Laid Eggs" can be over a month old.

We have a regular milkman. He had to leave us one bottle short a couple of weeks ago so that he could get another regular added to his round, but he knew we would understand. Should he fall ill, or we have an unforeseen demand, a farm a mile away sells raw untreated milk, again with an honesty box.

The west of Lancashire is proper market gardening territory. I have relatives who grow tomatoes for a living, and others who specialise in salad leaves. People buy "Ruffords" or "Ormskirks" rather than quoting a potato variety, though the people selling them always know should you ask.

I'm not sure I could cope if I lived in a city with my diet constrained by what Tesco's or Sainsbury's decided they would let me buy.
Title: Re: Milk being poured away
Post by: suey on Monday 13 April 20 17:36 BST (UK)
As I lived there, I was brought up on raw untreated milk! People today would be amazed we survived, but apart from the threat of unfortunate things like tuberculosis and brucellosis, we all did!
Let's hear it for the Milkmen of Britain!!
TY

We can buy raw milk straight from the farm, they also do the usual pasteurised full and skimmed milk. You can buy in plastic or re-useable re-fillable glass 2litre bottles.  They saw a gap in the market and went for it.  They also run a farm foods shop with fresh veg, fruit and meat bit more expensive but we’ve decided we won’t be buying these things from a supermarket any more.
Title: Re: Milk being poured away
Post by: BumbleB on Monday 13 April 20 17:46 BST (UK)
My previous attempt disappeared, so I'll try again!

I lived, as a child, in rural Cheshire, and my one delight was to go and help "Mr Wobinson".

I loved tasting the milk as it passed through the cooler prior to deposit in the churn, and the froth was even better. 

But when it was milking time I was ignored.  So one day I locked them in the shippon, and went home.  The only escape was for them to climb into the overhead loft and use the big door.

And then they ignored me when they were ploughing and sowing turnip seed, so I hid the bag down a rabbit hole, but then forgot which one.

Remedy:  put me on the back of the shire horse = Dobbin, so they knew where I was!!

I was told later that the cry of "wait for me Mr Wobinson, wait for me" was treated as a threat.  :o :o

I'm not very sure that I've changed that much  :-X
Title: Re: Milk being poured away
Post by: philipsearching on Monday 13 April 20 22:10 BST (UK)
I made myself a bowl of semolina for breakfast this morning to "do my bit" to consume more milk. Yes, daft and probably pointless, I know. I don't think I'll be making semolina for breakfast again though!

What did you put with Trystan, semolina on its own is a bit bland, you need a good dollop of something sweet with it.  Strawberry jam is my preference.

Or you could spice it up - I like it with a hint of cinnammon.  (I don't recommend mint - I tried it once - urgh!)

Philip