Sources at Buckingham Palace said the Davidstow cheddar warrant, produced by Dairy Crest, could be withdrawn for environmental reasons after a 1,5 1.5m fine was imposed by the Environment Agency. They said the warrants were being reconsidered and the Queen’s cheesemakers had to comply with environmental standards. Palace officials added that they could be recalled at any time. These grants are given by the Queen and Prince Charles to their favored suppliers, who are then allowed to display the royal coat of arms on their products. Indicates that the products from the companies are enjoyed by the royal members and are used as a quality mark. Currently, 800 companies have warrants, including Bollinger Champagne, Waitrose Supermarket and Fortnum and Mason. This move would probably be painful for the queen, as Davidstow is considered her favorite cheddar. It is made by Dairy Crest, which also produces Cathedral City cheese and Country Life butter. Dairy Crest, now owned by Canadian company Saputo, has been found to have dumped liquid waste, suspended solids and “biological sludge” into the Inny River in Cornwall for many years, raising its nutrient levels and killing trout and salmon. Partially treated wastewater also leaked to nearby land. In one incident, treated effluent from the cream was released into Inny containing a biocidal product that killed hundreds of fish. Locals said the dairy had left “egg smells” in the area. Subscribe to the First Edition, our free daily newsletter – every morning at 7 p.m. BST The palace has been in discussions with the creamy for some time about the pollution of the river. A spokesman said: “Dairy Crest informed us about this a while ago and informed us of its actions in response.” Campaigners welcomed the move, but also asked Queen and Prince Charles to reconsider royal orders from other intensive meat and dairy producers. Currently, many meat and cheese producers have a warrant. Rob Percival, head of food policy at the Soil Association, said: “This case is emblematic of a national issue. Only 16% of inland freshwater in England is close to its natural state and is partly responsible for intensive livestock activities, which provide much of our meat and dairy products. “These systems tend to generate a lot more manure and slurry than can be safely recycled back into the ground, and inadequate water-borne water storage, combined with excessive nutrient use, often leads to river pollution, damaging fish and aquatic life. “Intensive livestock breeding creates a royal chaos in our rivers – it is understandable that the queen is thinking of removing her insignia from the responsible companies.” Dairy Crest declined to comment on the possible removal of its royal warrant, but said in a statement that it had “sincerely apologized” to those affected and said it had worked to rectify the plant’s problems. “Once again, the company would like to express its sincere apologies to those affected. “Significant work has been done to correct the historical issues with which the prosecution was concerned,” he said. “The company continues to invest significant resources in better technology, processes and people to further improve its environmental performance and minimize its impact on the local community.”
