British households may find a key festive staple missing from their Christmas cheeseboards this year, as a severe outbreak of a contagious animal disease in Greece threatens the supply of feta cheese.
Deadly Virus Decimates Greek Flocks
The crisis stems from a major outbreak of sheep pox, a highly contagious and often fatal virus, affecting sheep and goats across Greece. The disease, which first emerged in northern parts of the country in August 2024, has since spread to multiple regions.
Official data from Greece's Ministry of Rural Development and Food recorded a total of 1,702 incidents by mid-November 2025. The impact on livestock has been devastating, with the virus killing between 80% and 100% of infected animals.
One farmer from the outskirts of Karditsa in central Greece recounted the grim reality to the BBC, having lost 650 sheep and goats. "I was here the day the sheep were culled," he said. "It is very cruel. I felt that I failed to protect them."
EU Rules and Ripple Effects on Feta Production
In line with strict European Union disease control protocols, the detection of a single case within a herd mandates the culling of the entire flock. This measure has led to the disposal of approximately 417,000 animals so far, representing roughly 4-5% of Greece's total sheep and goat population.
The consequences for feta cheese production are direct and severe. Around 80% of all sheep and goat's milk in Greece is used to produce genuine feta, a product with a Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) within the EU. This status means only cheese made in specific Greek regions using traditional methods can bear the feta name.
Professor Dimitris Gougoulis from the University of Thessaly's Faculty of Veterinary Medicine explained the market strain: "The limited amount of available milk increases production costs and makes it more difficult to maintain current quantities [of feta] on the market."
Control Efforts and the Road to Recovery
Greek authorities state they implemented EU eradication plans from the outset, which initially brought cases to near zero by the spring of 2025. However, a resurgence followed. A ministry spokesman told the BBC that a scientific committee was established in October 2025 in response, citing a key factor: "many farmers did not comply with biosecurity measures, resulting in an explosion in cases."
For UK consumers, the disruption in Greece translates to a potential shortage and likely price increases for authentic feta cheese in the crucial Christmas trading period. While similar white brined cheeses can be produced elsewhere in Europe, they cannot be labelled as feta, leaving a distinct gap on supermarket shelves.
