Carmichael welcomes study urging caution in proposals to cut meat and dairy consumption

Orkney and Shetland MP, Alistair Carmichael, has today welcomed a study commissioned by Food Standards Scotland, which found that proposals to cut meat and dairy consumption risked exacerbating micronutrient insufficiencies for people in Scotland.

The research, conducted by the University of Edinburgh, found that the independent Climate Change Committee’s recommendation for consumers to reduce meat and dairy consumption by a fifth by 2030, would risk doing the average person more harm than good. Food Standards Scotland said the modelling had shown that with careful consideration and adequate replacement, the impact of meat and dairy reductions could be mitigated, but added it was not known how individuals would replace meat and dairy and “caution was advised”.

In response to the findings, Mr Carmichael said:

“I welcome this research from Food Standard Scotland and the University of Edinburgh. It shows clearly that we need a balance in how we treat food production in Scotland, to meet our climate goals but also to protect nutrition for vulnerable people – in addition to the importance of farming and crofting as a public good in their own right.

“The Northern Isles are ideally suited to rearing high quality lamb and suckler beef. Livestock agriculture here is entirely different from the sort of intensive farming that is seen in other parts of the world, which has to be kept in mind when we talk about climate targets for food production. There is longstanding and ongoing work going on in Scottish farming to drive down environmental impacts – we should continue to support those efforts.

“Ultimately whether or not there is a particular target for the consumption of meat, dairy or any other product, the goal must be to support quality food produced to the highest standards. That means supporting the quality of food production we already have in the UK and rewarding farmers and crofters for living up to those standards.”