The Vegetarian Society recognises that many vegetarians are concerned about welfare standards in the dairy industry; in particular they may want to avoid products sourced from cows who are permanently housed indoors (known as zero grazing).



This issue is not covered by The Seedling Symbol scheme so we recommend that you look out for products that are certified by The Soil Association’s Organic Symbol as well as carrying our trademark.

The Soil Association sets higher standards for animal welfare in the dairy industry than any other UK accreditation scheme. The Soil Association does not allow the sale of male calves to continental style veal systems, or any other non-welfare friendly/intensive system, and from January 2008 registered dairy farmers will be required to explore options to rear calves instead of shooting them. For further information regarding the standards please visit http://www.soilassociation.org/standardsguide

The following companies produce dairy products that carry both The Seedling Symbol Trademark and the Soil Association Organic Symbol:

• Grahams Dairies Organic Milk Supplies Ltd – Salted Butter

• North Downs Dairy Company - Pilgrims Choice Organic Farmhouse Mature Cheddar; Pilgrims Choice Organic Mature Cheddar; Pilgrims Choice Organic Mild Cheddar; Pilgrims Choice Organic Red Leicester; Pilgrims Choice Organic Double Gloucester Cheese

• Fayrefield Foods – Colliers Welsh Cheddar

• Woodlands Park Dairy Ltd - Organic Sheeps Milk Yoghurt - Cranberry and Raspberry - 150g; Organic Sheeps Milk Yoghurt - Blackcurrent - 150g; Organic Sheeps Milk Yoghurt - Apricot - 150g; Organic Sheeps Milk Yoghurt - Strawberry - 150g; Organic Sheep's Milk Yoghurt Natural 450g; Organic Sheep's Milk Yoghurt Natural - 200g;

In addition to this list we also have a number of companies that have other organic products accredited by The Vegetarian Society and Soil Association.

• Plamil Foods Ltd
• Venture Foods
• Daily Bread Co-operative
• Shipton Mill
• Aconbury Sprouts
• Veetee Rice
• Kallo Foods Ltd
• Suma Foods
• Cauldron Foods
• Get Real
• Doves Farm
• Kettle Foods
• Statfold Seed Oil Development
• Matthews Foods
• HealthQuest Ltd
• Spiezia Organics Ltd
• Dragonfly Foods
• Grove Fresh
• Black isle Brewery
• Shepherd Neame Ltd
• Broughton Ales Ltd -
• Dorset Cereals Ltd

To search for organic products produced by the companies above, simply use our searchable database.

For more info on dairy cows and welfare see www.vegsoc.org/info/cattle