The environmental and nutritional contribution of the UK dairy sector has been "wilfully misrepresented", according to Dairy UK.
The comments follow the publication of the report ‘Principles for eating meat and dairy more sustainably’, urging reduced consumption of dairy products.
The report suggests dairy production is a driving force behind wide-scale global biodiversity loss, particularly through the increasing cultivation and use of crops such as soya for feeding livestock.
Judith Bryans, Chief Executive Dairy UK, a trade association that represents the interests of the industry, said it "totally rejects" the assertion that dairy products are not environmentally sustainable.
Ms Bryans said: “The dairy sector helps to feed the UK with efficient, predominantly grass-based milk production, high animal welfare standards, safe and nutritious foods.
“We contribute to food security, look after the land, provide livelihoods and contribute greatly to the national economy.
She added: “Consumers can keep dairy in their diets in the full knowledge that we take our environmental credentials very seriously as we strive to provide them with the tasty nutritious foods they know and love.”
'Cherry picking'
The organisation has blamed the report for criticising the UK dairy industry from a global perspective, "cherry picking" statistics which "paint a false picture of the industry".
“Advising consumers to cut their dairy intake is wrong and unhelpful in helping the nation meet its nutritional requirements,” Ms Bryans added.
“The authors are also behind the times on global dairy, which is making strides forward on the environmental front and has even signed a Declaration with the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation.
“Despite the fact that we have a lot to talk about by way of our existing environmental credentials, the UK dairy industry is committed to improving its environmental performance through the Dairy Roadmap, setting challenging targets for reducing the sector’s environmental footprint.”
