AN MP has told government ministers not to ban green top milk for the sake of thousands of her constituents who enjoy the unpasteurised drink.

Darwen and Rossendale MP Janet Anderson has written to Agriculture Minister Jack Cunningham, urging him to drop the plans to prohibit the product because of public demand to keep it and the damage that would be done to already hard-pressed farmers if it were banned.

Doctor Cunningham has already been forced to delay a decision on green top because of the public outcry against the proposal.

A consultation period on the planned ban has been extended to allow further consideration.

Now government Whip Mrs Anderson, who has also spoken personally to Dr Cunningham, Food Minister Jeff Rooker and Public Health Minister Tessa Jowell, has stepped up her campaign to save the milk.

She said: "This is a matter of consumer choice. My preference is for green top milk to carry a stronger health warning so that people are aware of the dangers before they drink it.

"There are many, many people in my constituency who enjoy green top and want to continue being able to consume it.

"We have just had a public health Green Paper which dropped the idea of the 'Nanny State' telling people what to do, and this is a prime example of where they should be allowed to make up their own minds, once they know the benefits and the disadvantages.

"In addition, banning green top will cause hardship to many farmers in my constituency who are already suffering because of the crisis in agriculture, including the BSE chaos left by the previous government.

"I do not think we should put any more farmers under pressure. I have made a strong appeal to Doctor Cunningham and his fellow ministers to save green top."

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