The Food Standards Agency (FSA) board will decide on March 20, 2012 whether or not it should review the rules about the sale and marketing of unpasteurized milk and cream.
The board is concerned about new sales methods, including the internet and vending machines, even though there hasn’t been a foodborne illness outbreak associated with raw milk in the UK in the past 10 years.
Most milk and cream for sale in the UK is pasteurized to kill harmful pathogens. Some restricted sales of raw cow’s, sheep, and goat’s milk are allowed in England, Northern Ireland, and Wales.
Raw milk sales are not legal in Scotland. The sale of raw cow’s milk was banned in 1983. And the sale of raw goat’s milk and cream was banned in 2005.
At this time, unpasteurized cow’s milk can be sold directly to consumers from farms. This includes farmer’s markets, milk rounds, or farm catering. The products must be labeled.
There are about 100 farms selling raw milk from cows for human consumption in the UK. There are fewer producers of raw milk from goats and sheep.
The press release states:
“There is an inherent food safety risk associated with drinking raw milk because germs normally killed by pasteurization may be present. The sale of raw milk is therefore strictly controlled. Older people, infants and pregnant women are particularly vulnerable to food poisoning, so are advised not to drink it.”
