'No one's buying British' The dairy industry will be one of the worst hit by the foot and mouth crisis. Although the ban on UK exports does not include the majority of dairy commodities because they are heat treated, processors are faced with the prospect of having to persuade overseas customers to continue buying British. And that is not proving easy. Tony Vernon, chairman of Murray Vernon, owner of the Happy Cow and Murray Vale brands, said: "We will probably need at least six months clear until countries which have put a total ban on British exports, like Mexico and Algeria, let us back in." Clare Cheney, director general of the Provision Trade Federation, admitted: "Thousands of pounds of dairy products are building up as overseas customers refuse to take on British exports." PTF figures show 90% of the whole milk powder, 39% of the butter, 35% of the cream and 17% of the cheese produced in this country is exported. And as milk and cream, originally destined for overseas markets, is diverted into producing other commodities, the industry fear is that there will be a glut of perishables on the home market. Vernon said: "Factories are working flat out day and night. As more product is being made than we require, the price will be driven down in the long term." And as dairy stocks built up, Sainsbury was selling 568ml packs of double cream at 99p instead of £1.19. The supermarket chain said it worked on the two week promotion with Express Dairies, which was left with excess supplies in the wake of the export ban. {{NEWS }}