In response to the article in last week’s Manx Independent, which highlighted flaws in the milk-testing regime, Isle of Man Creamery has moved to reassure its customers that the milk producer mentioned in the Tynwald report is not a supplier.

Unlike all the other island milk producers, this producer is an independent dairy operation: they do not supply raw milk to the Creamery and therefore are not subject to testing at the Creamery laboratory.

A spokeperson for the Creamery said: ’The food safety concerns raised in the Tynwald report into the "Regulation of the Safety and Quality of Cow’s Milk" do not relate to any milk processed at the Creamery.

’Isle of Man Creamery is a farmer-owned cooperative supporting 30 farming families in the island. All the farmers that supply the Creamery meet its rigorous food safety, hygiene and quality testing regime in accordance with the requisite legal standards.

’All of the milk that is collected from the Isle of Man Creamery farmer producers is firstly tested each time it is collected and each and every batch of our product is then also subject to a number of important and thorough safety tests after it has been processed and packed into plastic bottles or the more environmentally friendly plant-based cartons.

’Isle of Man Creamery supplies retailers of all sizes in the Isle of Man, in the UK, USA, EU and Australia and we are proud that our products meet and exceed their stringent measures for food safety, hygiene and quality. In many cases, standards set by multiple retailers exceed the minimum legal requirements. Our factory is audited under the internationally recognised British Retail Consortium (BRC) standard and has achieved the coveted "AA" grading under this scheme.

’This accreditation is a prerequisite for food manufacturers supplying large retailers. Our on-site laboratory is also independently accredited and audited. We are the only supplier of milk in the island with these accreditations.

’Isle of Man Creamery welcomes the recommendations set out in the Tynwald report referred to in the Manx Independent article which largely reflect suggestions made by the Creamery to DEFA over the last few years.

’In particular, we support the need for transparency in relation to food producer test results and a clear escalation process to be implemented should any food manufacturer not meet the required standards of hygiene and food safety.’

l The full Tynwald report can be viewed using the link below: https://www.tynwald.org.im/business/pp/Reports/2021-PP-0100.pdf