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Stop the world - fake milk is on the way

For a good reason though. Muufrii (pronounced ‘Moofree’) will provide all the goodness of real milk without any of that pesky cow nonsense.

HERE IN IRELAND, we love our milk.

From the cup of tea to the essential cornflakes adornment, we get through a serious amount of the stuff (in 2011 alone we got through 495 million milky litres according to agriculture authority Teagasc, while there’s roughly 17,000 dairy farms operating in Ireland overall).

But would we love our milk quite so much if it didn’t come from a cow? Even if the quality was indistinguishable?

Well, get ready to find out, because Muufri milk is on the way, and there’s nary a bovine to be seen.

The brainchild of two Californian bioengineers Perumal Gandhi and Ryan Pandya, the idea behind Muufri is to create a synthetic milk-variant with all the health and taste benefits of regular milk.

Why do we need this alternative you may ask? Because dairy farming contributes roughly 3% of the harmful greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide, methane etc) that are eating away at the ozone layer is the short answer.

And its something government agencies are starting to take very seriously.

Gandhi told National Geographic that the idea behind Muufrii is to change the world’s diet “from a product that isn’t sustainable to something that is”.

The world will not switch from milk from a cow to the plant-based milks. But if our cow-less milk is identical and priced right, they just might

Both Gandhi and Pandya are vegans who view the livestock industry in all its forms as inhumane.

“Fundamentally, you’re controlling the reproductive system of an animal. It’s incredibly invasive,” Pandya told National Geographic.

So how difficult is it to synthesise milk? Actually, not as difficult as you might think.

Milk is quite a simple substance it seems, with less than 20 components. So it can be artificially made using the same synthetic process used to create insulin for diabetics.

DNA is extracted from dairy cows and inserted into yeast cells which are then grown on an industrial scale at the right temperature.

Well ok, that does sound quite difficult.

shutterstock_169165043 Are these guys' days numbered? Shutterstock / MarclSchauer Shutterstock / MarclSchauer / MarclSchauer

On the plus side, because the production process is artificial the bacterial cultures and nutritional values involved can all be tweaked. So the end product may be even healthier than regular milk (and will certainly last longer).

Muufri milk should be on the American market from the middle of 2016. You would imagine if it’s any sort of success, we Irish will be getting it to.

Our enthusiasm may be a little harder to come by though.

Read: Are you a coeliac? This new pill could make eating gluten a piece of cake

Read: Twins? Not quite. But Nasa has found the most Earth-like planet yet

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67 Comments
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    Mute Philip Cooper
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    Jul 26th 2015, 3:09 PM

    Pull the udder one.

    320
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    Mute Chris Kirk
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    Jul 26th 2015, 3:51 PM

    Non dairy Soya milk has been around for years….

    125
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    Mute Grigori Rasputin
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    Jul 26th 2015, 4:00 PM

    Soya “milk” has nothing to do with cow milk, though. This is an attempt to artificially synthesise cow milk.

    125
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    Mute Greased Up Deaf Guy
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    Jul 26th 2015, 4:03 PM

    But there’s no demand for that, because it’s Shite!

    198
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    Mute Alan Corlett
    Favourite Alan Corlett
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    Jul 26th 2015, 4:15 PM

    But this “new” milk might taste and react like milk rather than (as you so very accurately put it) that “Shite”

    59
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    Mute Cram Wood
    Favourite Cram Wood
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    Jul 26th 2015, 5:23 PM

    Just no FFS.

    28
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    Mute Larry Doyle
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    Jul 26th 2015, 3:54 PM

    If it’s taste is measured against American milk I’d rather put emulsion paint on my cornflakes.

    238
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    Mute Catherine
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    Jul 26th 2015, 3:10 PM

    This won’t pick up in Ireland. Unlike the American food market which is saturated with processed foods. We have an excess of natural cows milk here with no need for replacements or substitutes (except in the case of allergies, but there are already better, wholesome replacements on the market).

    236
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    Mute Niall Donnelly
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    Jul 26th 2015, 3:16 PM

    That will all change if the U.S. / EU trade deal goes ahead

    122
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    Mute Supernova
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    Jul 26th 2015, 3:17 PM

    Yeah next we’ll have cheese in a can like the Americans Catherine

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    Mute Infidel
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    Jul 26th 2015, 3:21 PM

    Oh no not cheese in a can!!

    64
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    Mute Pauliebhoy
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    Jul 26th 2015, 3:47 PM

    Chicken in a can is even better

    55
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    Mute Daniel O Broin
    Favourite Daniel O Broin
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    Jul 27th 2015, 10:36 AM

    We have milk because people want milk. Supply and demand. The environmental impact of livestock rearing is enormous. There is absolutely a need to explore alternative. Please explain how something that is nearly chemically identical to the real thing is any less “wholesome” than real milk, let alone inferior to alternatives like soy and almond milk?

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    Mute Little Diddy No
    Favourite Little Diddy No
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    Jul 27th 2015, 2:55 PM

    Well Daniel, do you not think that splicing animal DNA into a wheat crop which nobody can guarantee will never cross contaminate natural wheat is very worrying? IWe have selectively bred and hybridised plant species for generations, but selecting desirable traits and hybridising plants within the same species is a whole different ballgame from splicing animal DNA into a plant and releasing it into the wild. We have absolutely no idea of the outcome of this huge uncontrolled experiment that is going on around the world with GMO’s but it could be a complete disaster. Our current flora and fauna have evolved in a web of complex interactions over many millions of years. The history of human interference with these complex webs of life is a sorry one, and this next step could be truly disastrous.

    So no to synthetic GMO milk, thank you very much. The precautionary principle must apply when it comes to messing with our food chains.

    4
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    Mute Mark Malone
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    Jul 26th 2015, 3:06 PM

    Whats next, a V-bone steak?

    130
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    Mute Brendan Hughes
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    Jul 26th 2015, 5:13 PM

    croc of crap. vegan me hole the first step is to inject it with bovine DNA. woo look at me im a vegan (when it suits me). what happens when all cows are on the dole who’s paying for that.

    123
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    Mute Malachy Mc Carron
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    Jul 26th 2015, 5:31 PM

    Best laugh I’ve had today

    21
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    Mute Sandra Clifford
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    Jul 26th 2015, 3:14 PM

    Adult milk formula no thanks

    119
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    Mute Stuart Keogh
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    Jul 26th 2015, 3:11 PM

    No thanks

    83
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    Mute Colette Kearns
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    Jul 26th 2015, 3:27 PM

    Im sticking with cows milk, thanks but no thanks!

    81
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    Mute Permo Dermo
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    Jul 26th 2015, 4:10 PM

    be honest and name it as it is “lab milk”

    70
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    Mute Paul Culligan
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    Jul 26th 2015, 3:28 PM

    The Muufri Bars are on me??…..Nahhhhhh!!!

    58
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    Mute Drew TheChinaman :)
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    Jul 26th 2015, 3:25 PM

    People may buy ‘faux-milk’ but we have all tasted fake non-dairy held together with gelatin/plant proteins never actually melts ice cream and it WILL NEVER. Replace the real thing.

    57
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    Mute Daniel O Broin
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    Jul 27th 2015, 10:38 AM

    They’re not plant proteins though. That’s the crucial bit. These are identical to the proteins in actual milk because they are transcribed from the same sequences of DNA.

    9
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    Mute Patorikku Reen
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    Jul 26th 2015, 3:10 PM

    Excellent. Another step forward!

    55
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    Mute Infidel
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    Jul 26th 2015, 3:20 PM

    Anudder step forward…..

    32
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    Mute Enoch Burke IV
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    Jul 26th 2015, 3:20 PM

    Of course it would be some Californian anti-Christ that comes up with this nonsense.

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    Mute Jay Christo
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    Jul 26th 2015, 3:49 PM

    Best comment I’ve read all week

    17
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    Mute Gene Parmesan
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    Jul 26th 2015, 3:38 PM

    There’ll be no demand for that cos it’s shite!

    49
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    Mute J. Dunn
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    Jul 26th 2015, 3:47 PM

    Can’t patent the real thing.

    45
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    Mute Daniel O Broin
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    Jul 27th 2015, 12:25 PM

    It won’t matter. They’ll have to sell it as cheaply as cow milk to compete anyway so patenting won’t allow them to jack up the price.

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    Mute Stephen Earle
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    Jul 26th 2015, 3:13 PM

    Udderly ridiculous!!

    44
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    Mute Diarmuid Lucey
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    Jul 26th 2015, 3:06 PM

    Yet an udder reason that food processing is getting moo r and moo r advanced!

    43
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    Mute Patrick Murphy
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    Jul 26th 2015, 5:11 PM

    Great, because we need more processed, artifical food in the world.

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    Mute M
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    Jul 26th 2015, 7:57 PM

    What is artificial food?

    6
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    Mute Patrick Murphy
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    Jul 26th 2015, 9:09 PM

    Food that is made from non food ingredients. I wouldn’t think that food made with extracted bovine dna could be considered natural. I think food having to be made by chemical processes could probably be considered artifical, but that’s just my opinion.

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    Mute Eme
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    Jul 27th 2015, 1:07 AM

    F off.milk is absolutely disgusting and is only suitable for calves.

    9
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    Mute M
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    Jul 27th 2015, 9:52 AM

    That may not be “natural” but then neither is farming, and agricuture in general. Naturalness is no measure of anything.

    6
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    Mute Little Diddy No
    Favourite Little Diddy No
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    Jul 27th 2015, 2:58 PM

    Indeed, and those who care about the rights of cows tend to be against genetically altering wheat by splicing animal genes into it and releasing it into the wild where it can potentially contaminate other wheat crops – with terrifyingly unknown future consequences.

    1
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    Mute A B
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    Jul 26th 2015, 3:46 PM

    Silly hippies

    29
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    Mute KM
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    Jul 26th 2015, 3:24 PM

    “Muufri packaging mock-up, why not?”

    I think ‘Why Not?’ should be their advertising campaign. It would be sure to fill consumers with the confidence they need.

    22
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    Mute M
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    Jul 26th 2015, 7:56 PM

    This is great. Hopefully cultured meat will follow soon. This is the solution to the ethical cul de sac of animal consumption. A lot of people have their heads up their ass about whats ‘natural’ and this and that. The soon to be antiquated and primitive method of growing a whole living conscious entity for the sole purpose of killing it for its meat or drinking its milk needs to stop as soon as possible.

    I will drink this milk somethin fierce and if it tastes a little different or worse il get over it and not be an absolute git.

    17
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    Mute Alan Corlett
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    Jul 26th 2015, 3:07 PM

    Does it come in chocolate flavour?

    15
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    Mute Pat Snack
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    Jul 26th 2015, 3:21 PM

    I saw mint chocolate flavoured milk today in Tesco’s, gonna have to try it!

    37
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    Mute Infidel
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    Jul 26th 2015, 3:23 PM

    I can confirm it is very good Pat. I finished my sons the other day, he was less than impressed!

    44
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    Mute Pat Snack
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    Jul 26th 2015, 3:27 PM

    Thanks Infidel, gonna treat myself tomorrow so, start the week off on a good note!

    20
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    Mute Alan Corlett
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    Jul 26th 2015, 4:05 PM

    Hmmm Tesco’s you say, now I’m going to have to get dressed and go out in the rain

    20
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    Mute Pat Snack
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    Jul 26th 2015, 4:10 PM

    You could always get the online shopping to deliver it, Alan. I don’t know what the minimum spend is, say it was €50, just get €50 worth of mint chocolate milk, what’s the worst that could happen?

    21
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    Mute Pat Snack
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    Jul 26th 2015, 4:13 PM

    Just incase you’re wondering, here’s the product, limited edition, allegedly:

    https://m.facebook.com/MoojuFlavouredMilk

    5
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    Mute Alan Corlett
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    Jul 26th 2015, 4:21 PM

    Only want to drink it Pat, not to bathe in it (have to use ass’s milk for that), and apart from the. inconvenience and me being a tight arse, I suppose the 10min walk will do me good.

    20
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    Mute Pat Snack
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    Jul 26th 2015, 4:22 PM

    It’ll free up the calories for you, Alan!

    8
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    Mute Brendan Hughes
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    Jul 26th 2015, 5:15 PM

    if you drink enough of it you’ll have ass milk

    7
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    Mute Mary Kavanagh
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    Jul 26th 2015, 11:35 PM

    Haven’t tried it myself but my son says it’s lovely.

    1
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    Mute Mark Gerard Lochlain
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    Jul 26th 2015, 3:46 PM

    Coffee mate!!!! Fooooook that!!!

    15
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    Mute Rita Cahill
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    Jul 26th 2015, 6:46 PM

    I’m sticking with pure Irish cows milk, thanks but no thanks to USA lab Experiment Milk Muufri Lab Animal Free GMO milk

    14
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    Mute John Lennox
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    Jul 26th 2015, 7:09 PM

    Another industry that is vital to many countries and local people that may be replaced by factory production.

    The same type of Vegan pr1cks are looking at growing slabs of meat in labs.

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    Mute George Masterson
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    Jul 26th 2015, 6:28 PM

    Bloody vegan nonsense.

    8
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    Mute Ross Stewart
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    Jul 27th 2015, 12:26 PM

    If the nonsense is vegan, there’ll be no blood

    3
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    Mute Ultan Quirke
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    Jul 27th 2015, 12:20 AM

    Is it really animal free if the first step of the process involves bovine DNA?

    7
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    Mute Diarmuid Lucey
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    Jul 26th 2015, 3:09 PM

    Yet an udder example of food processing getting moo r and moo r advanced!

    7
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    Mute John Shaft
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    Jul 26th 2015, 6:12 PM

    I bet this one page ad will pay at least three of ye this week

    5
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    Mute John McCarthy
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    Jul 26th 2015, 3:45 PM

    Headline news there

    4
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    Mute Barry Slemon
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    Jul 26th 2015, 7:01 PM

    Sounds dodgy to me. They better come up with an udder idea.

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    Mute gerrymiah
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    Jul 26th 2015, 8:34 PM

    Simon where are you today when you are needed ?.

    1
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    Mute BannerBoyDesmond
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    Jul 27th 2015, 1:55 PM

    Irish people might not take to this new product because they are used to the taste of real milk. However what if for example China or other countries that Ireland exports to end up embracing it? Surely will have a knock on effect for milk prices?

    1
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    Mute Dave Meagher
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    Jul 27th 2015, 10:13 AM

    ” But there’s no demand for that because it’s ……………shite”

    1
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    Mute Miriam Dowling
    Favourite Miriam Dowling
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    Jul 27th 2015, 10:06 AM

    I’d love to switch from the not so nice almond/soy/oat ‘milk’ to this.

    1
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