Dispute over contaminated salt supply goes to mediation

Glanbia has claimed losses of €3.2m after pieces of wood, bird feathers and metal shards found at cheese-making plants

Glanbia has claimed losses of €3.2m after pieces of wood, bird feathers and metal shards found in salt supplied to cheese-making plants. Photograph: iStock
Glanbia has claimed losses of €3.2m after pieces of wood, bird feathers and metal shards found in salt supplied to cheese-making plants. Photograph: iStock

A dispute over allegedly contaminated salt that was provided to food producer Glanbia for cheese-making may be resolved through mediation, the Commercial Court has heard.

Glanbia Ireland DAC and Glanbia Foods Ireland Ltd are suing the Irish Salt Company Ltd, of Tramore Road, Cork, and British Salt Ltd of Northwich, Cheshire, England, for alleged losses of some €3.2 million after pieces of wood, bird feathers and shards of metal were found in salt supplied for cheese-making.

The case was mentioned before the Commercial Court on Monday when Mr Justice Denis McDonald was told by Conal Ellis that all parties were agreed the dispute can now proceed by way of mediation.

The case could be adjourned to October and, in the meantime, the voluntary discovery of documents required for the case could continue, counsel said.

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Mr Justice McDonald said he was delighted the case was going to mediation and adjourned it to October.

In its action, Glanbia claims the defendants supplied, or manufactured, allegedly contaminated salt which was found in two separate incidents in 2020. The first was in Glanbia’s Ballyragget, Kilkenny plant and the second at its Rocklands, Wexford, production facilities.

Glanbia claims damages for breach of duty, warranty and contract.