Warning of 'dioxin pastures'

Farmers are being warned about grazing dangers

Food experts are warning Welsh farmers that dairy herds could be at risk from raised levels of dioxins if they graze near to foot-and-mouth carcass burning sites.

The Food Standards Agency said the risk of contamination is slight and adds that the majority of milk sold would not be affected.

But Wales's 3,500 dairy farmers are to receive the technical warning from the FSA.

There are no precise figures on the numbers of dairy herds grazing near to existing or extinguished pyres, but the total is thought to be small.

The FSA said it has tested soil, grass and milk across the UK including locations on Anglesey and near Sennybridge in Powys, where thousands of culled animals have been burned.

Initial results show slightly raised dioxin levels within two kilometres or a mile and a quarter of a pyre.

But because milk is mixed in bulk before it is sold, the FSA said it believes that it is "highly unlikely" that a risk to public health could arise.

Only people consuming milk produced locally from areas within a two kilometre zone of burning areas face a higher risk.

The food watchdog's conclusion is for consumers to carry on drinking milk but get it from a mix of sources.