Fault spoils organic beet juice

9 January 2002



Fault spoils organic beet juice

By FWi staff

A MECHANICAL failure at British Sugars Newark factory has resulted in the contamination of juice from organic sugar beet.

The company said juice from conventionally grown sugar beet had contaminated the juice from last seasons near 10,000t organic crop.

As a result, Britains first organic sugar beet crop will not make it into the shops But growers premiums are secure, insisted British Sugar.

“Clearly this is a setback for us in the sugar market but the impact at the agricultural end of the operation is nil,” said the firms John Smith.

Organic growers have already been paid and all will receive their 55% premium over conventional A and B quota prices.

The company is contracting organic area for this spring. It wants to increase production to 20,000t, grown on about 500ha (1236 acres).

Last season, 330ha of organic sugar beet were grown.

• Factory problems cost beet growers, FWi, 6 December, 2001
• Growers quit in sugar-beet shake-up, FWi, 16 October, 2001
• Futures still sweet, insists BS, FWi, 25 May, 2001