The importance of milk manufacturers ensuring the quality of their products has been highlighted in a number of Gastroenteritis cases across the country.
There have been up to five cases of gastroenteritis illness in children who have consumed unpasteurised milk labelled as bath or cosmetic milk.
History of pasteurisation
It has been compulsory for all milk to be pasteurised in Australia since the 1940s. The process essentially involves heating the milk for a short period of time which destroys any disease-causing bacteria present in the raw milk.
If the milk hasn’t been heated to the right temperature, the bacteria can grow and develop before the product reaches the customer.
What is cosmetic milk?
In the recent cases, children have drunk unpasteurised milk which is used for cosmetic purposes, but the packaging is very similar to drinking milk.
Victoria’s Chief Health Officer Dr Rosemary Lester said this highlighted the importance of only drinking pasteurised milk.
“Unpasteurised milk increases the risk of contracting gastrointestinal illness because it can contain pathogens such as Campylobacter, Cryptosporidium, shiga toxin-producing E. coli and Listeria monocytogenes,” she stated.
“Everyone is vulnerable to illness caused by the pathogens present in raw milk, but the risks are even greater for young children and for the elderly, those with underlying health problems, immunocompromised or pregnant.”
Dr Lester summarised that there have been three cases of Haemolytic Uraemic Syndrome (HUS) and two cases of cryptosporidiosis.
“HUS is a rare but serious condition caused by bacteria that affects the kidneys and the bloodstream. Cryptosporidiosis is a parasitic infection that commonly presents as gastroenteritis with watery diarrhoea,” she said.
“Only a small number of these pathogens are needed to cause illness. The sale of unpasteurised milk for human consumption is illegal in Victoria,”
What are the solutions for this problem?
As Dr Lester explained in a December 11 media statement, dairy farmers and milk manufacturers can’t guarantee that any dairy product will be free from harmful bacteria which makes pasteurisation essential.
However, manufacturers can ensure that their processes and systems are up-to-date to make sure that the milk is of the highest standard and that they meet the strong regulations and riles around milk production.
The testo Stainless Steel Mini Thermometer is perfect for stop checking foodstuffs and can be used in solid or powdery substances as well as in liquid. For more information, contact the expert team at Testo today.
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