Organic dairy farmers in the UK are challenging that country's Food Standards Agency to begin endorsing their product after citing new research showing it contains higher levels of nutrients like Omega 3 than conventional milk. Somerset-based OMSCo, Britain's leading co-op of organic dairy farmers, says the findings mean the FSA should now officially recognize the health benefits of organic milk. McDonald's Corp.'s British restaurants don't seem to be waiting for a challenge, but are instead answering consumer demand for organic products. They reported a 26% spike in milk sales since changing its milk supply to organic less than a year ago.

A Massachusetts man died at a Good Humor-Breyers ice cream plant in Farmington, Mass., last month after a large piece of equipment apparently fell on him. Gregory MacDonald, 45, was pronounced dead at nearby medical center after the accident. Good Humor-Breyers Ice Cream, which owns the facility, issued a statement of condolence and suspended all operations at the facility for a day.

Danish dairy giant Arla Foods may cut 600-700 jobs in Denmark and Sweden as part of changes to its production of liquid milk, the company said last month. Arla Foods has three fluid plants in Denmark and may close one, while closing as many as two or three plants in Sweden.

British milk producer Milk Link has formed a partnership with multinational food company Glanbia. The two say the new company, Cheese Company Holdings, will be the second biggest cheese producer in the UK, with products including cheddar, stilton and other British cheeses. It will employ about 1,000 people at four cheese processing plants and a packing facility.

More evidence that enhanced feed can lead to better milk came recently from a British study showing that the amount of saturated fats in cows milk drops significantly if cattle are fed a larger proportion of rapeseed oil The findings were published last month in the Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture.

The Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board, Canandaigua Wine and Breton Crackers have joined forced in "Paired with Pride," a Wisconsin specialty cheese and wine paring promotion that will be featured at more than 120 H-E-B grocery stores in Texas throughout 2004.