Scottish Organic Farm Loses School Milk Contract to German Giant

A Scottish organic farm, Mossgiel Organic Dairy, has expressed outrage after East Ayrshire council awarded a contract to supply milk to local schools to the German dairy giant Müller. The farm, located in Mauchline and known for its sustainable organic practices, teamed up with the local authority in 2021 to supply organic milk to schools. Mossgiel aimed to challenge the dominance of larger dairy firms and was the first UK dairy farm to eliminate single-use plastics. Despite their efforts, the council has chosen Müller, leading Mossgiel to criticize the decision on social media. They claimed, "On paper, the council saves £6500 a year. In reality, here’s the rest of the bill…" detailing potential costs and economic impacts, including job losses and increased recycling costs. They added, "Best case? They save a couple of grand up front but lose around £111,000 from the East Ayrshire economy." The council, in response, stated its commitment to providing healthy meals and maintaining standards, while engaging with the local market to promote opportunities.