Experts say a new directive released in response to the ‘buttergate’ affair could be more difficult for dairy farmers.
Dairy Farmers of Canada encourages its members to consider alternatives to palm supplements used to feed animals, while a working group addresses consumer concerns surrounding this common practice.
The change in butter consistency has been reported to be associated with cattle being fed products containing palm oil or its derivatives, which federal authorities consider safe for animals.
According to two animal science experts, Adam Lock, a Michigan State University professor who studies animal feeding and David Christensen, professor emeritus of animal science at the University of Saskatchewan, there is no dietary supplement as effective or affordable of palmitic acid. Doing without it could have repercussions for dairy producers trying to meet demand, they warn, and even lead to an increase in butter imports.
Daniel Lefebvre of Lactanet, who advises Canadian Dairy Farmers, believes this controversy stems frombaseless allegationsbut the change in public perception poses a greater threat to the dairy industry than asking farmers to change this aspect of their production.
Producteurs de lait du Québec has requested to stop using these by-products in dairy cattle feed and subject imports to the same standards. The whole food industry should look into the matter, it added, because palm oil is also prevalent as an ingredient in human food.
Source: Radio-Canada
