Tighter controls on raw milk production in UK
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has tightened the controls it expects to see in the production of raw drinking milk in England and Wales.
In collaboration with the Raw Milk Producers Association (RMPA) and other key stakeholders, the FSA has published the raw drinking milk guidance document.
According to the regulator, the document was developed in response to both a boost in raw drinking milk sales in recent years, as well as an increase in outbreaks of illness related to its consumption.
Unlike conventional dairy milk found on the supermarket shelf, raw drinking milk is not pasteurised – the process that kills off harmful bacteria. “Instead, it goes straight from the animal to the bottle,” explained the FSA.
“Raw drinking milk has a loyal following but is an inherently risky product because the way it’s produced increases the possibility of it containing harmful food poisoning bacteria,” said FSA’s Head of Food Safety Policy Michael Wight.
“It’s important to strike the right balance between protecting public health, preserving consumer choice and supporting responsible business. Food businesses must follow the measures set out in this guidance in order to reduce the health risk to consumers from this product.”
The guidance includes a number of safety measures raw milk producers must follow, including devising and implementing safety systems. The agency also expects producers to periodically test for specified pathogens and indicators of poor hygiene and disease in the milk.
Image: Getty/Diane Kuhl