Greek Feta Faces Threat from Sheep Pox Epidemic

Greek feta, 1 of the country’s astir successful export products, is under superior menace arsenic the ongoing sheep pox epidemic devastates livestock herds. While existent reserves of beverage and food accumulation screen contiguous needs, manufacture insiders warn that by March 2026 shortages will statesman to surface.

The situation has already escalated sharply: arsenic of past week, much than 262,000 sheep were infected, with galore much astatine hazard successful quarantined areas. The illness is spreading astatine an exponential rate, and marketplace sources picture existent containment measures arsenic “too little, too late.”

Rising Costs and Looming Shortages

In the coming months, feta prices are expected to look upward pressure, not lone due to the fact that of shrinking beverage supplies but besides owed to higher postulation costs tied to quarantine restrictions. From spring onward, dairy processors will apt person to contend with importantly smaller volumes of sheep’s milk—translating into reduced feta production.

The timing is critical: feta, alongside Greek yogurt, has go a planetary success story successful caller years, boosting the illustration of Greek nutrient exports. Yet increasing request could collide with dwindling supply, driving retail prices higher. Export-oriented dairies look an further squeeze, arsenic cow’s beverage “white cheese” alternatives from Europe are gaining ground, supported by falling beverage prices abroad.

Farmers successful Crisis

For farmers, the stroke is twofold. Beyond the demolition of their flocks, compensation payments are delayed—a chronic contented that leaves galore hesitant to study outbreaks to section authorities. This underreporting worsens the epidemic, creating what 1 marketplace insider calls a “vicious cycle.”
The strain is expected to widen into the nutrient marketplace arsenic well, with Easter lamb prices apt to spike.

Risk of International Stigma

Perhaps the gravest information lies successful the imaginable of Greece being classified arsenic a “mandatory vaccination country.” Such a statement would complicate exports to cardinal markets similar the United States, Australia, Japan, and Serbia, where strict rules necessitate food imports from disease-free, non-vaccinated herds. Extra inspections and the stigma of an uncontrolled epidemic could undermine feta’s hard-earned planetary reputation.

If unchecked, the epidemic threatens not conscionable farmers and dairies but the aboriginal of Greece’s astir iconic food connected the planetary stage.

Source: tovima.com