Vegans block access for customers wanting milk in four UK cities

A group of vegan activists have targeted supermarkets in four UK cities and have blocked customers' access to cow's milk in the dairy aisles.

Demonstrators from the activist group Animal Rebellion appeared at numerous supermarkets this week for their 'anti-dairy' protest armed with signs reading ‘Plant-Based Future’ and ‘Rewild our Land’, and attempted to stop shoppers from purchasing milk.

They entered a Whole Foods in London and Marks & Spencer’s stores in Southampton, Birmingham, and Manchester, Metro has reported.

Taking to Facebook to promote their cause, Animal Rebellion wrote: "Supermarkets in 4 different cities have had their dairy aisles blocked by Animal Rebellion supporters!

"A bottle of cows’ milk is representative of everything wrong with our food system. From animal exploitation to environmental degradation, it is a cruel, inefficient and unnecessary product."

They added: "It’s time to stop the supply of dairy. We can’t let this continue any longer - not when the answer is so simple - a #PlantBasedFuture."

In a statement, the group expanded on their reasoning behind the protests, saying 'millions of consumers will be unable to buy dairy milk' once it begins taking action in the first two weeks of September.

"We have spent months trying all the proper channels to engage with the government on the scientific consensus to transition to a plant-based future, but they have chosen to ignore us," Animal Rebellion’s statement said.

"We have been left with no choice but to step into civil resistance to pressure government action to preserve our futures.

"We are announcing our intentions in advance so the British public [can] prepare for a disruption to the milk supply this September.

"We apologise for any stress this may cause during a cost of living crisis, but the government are sleepwalking every single one of us into poverty, misery, and climate and ecological collapse. We cannot sit by and let this happen."

The group are well known for promoting a plant-based lifestyle and using extreme measures to get their message across. This includes members recently spilling full bottles of milk all over the floor at the Harrods Food Hall in London as part of the 'anti-dairy' protest.

"On Wednesday, Animal Rebellion disrupted Harrods by pouring bottles of milk onto the floor," the group wrote on Twitter.

"Why? Because we're in an animal and climate emergency! This September we're going to show that a #PlantBasedFuture is possible."

While Animal Rebellion are promoting an environmentally-friendly and ethical cause, many took great offense to the stunt and slammed the group for wasting produce and sending the wrong message during the cost of living crisis.

"How do you tell people who rely on food banks & a small budget to feed their family when your ideology dictates they must not buy dairy, or meat?" one person wrote.

While another pointed out: "I don't know who needs to hear this, but wasting food is (a) mindless vandalism, and (b) not the way to win hearts and minds."