resenLaLlon Lo SelecL ClreachLas CommlLLee on CommunlcaLlons naLural 8esources and

AgrlculLure Comblned uocumenLs

DCCUMLN1S kCVIDLD
Cvervlew and SLrucLure of resenLaLlon
,aln Campalgn olnLs
8esponse Lo lSAl uocumenLs
lnformaLlon from rofessor lrancls 8uLler


1be compolqo fot kow Mllk wos fotmeJ by o oombet of boJles ooJ bosloesses locloJloq 5low looJ ltelooJ
ltlsb cottle ooJ 5beep lotmets Assoclotloo cols 1be ltlsb lotmboose cbeese Mokets Assoclotloo
ototopoes cotk ltee cbolce coosomet Ctoop ltlsb looJ wtltets CollJ os well os tetollets of tow mllk A
covlstoos ooJ 5betlJoos cbeesemooqets ooJ fotmets ooJ ptoJocets 1letooo lomlly lotm ooJ kellys Otqoolc
5loce lts fotmotloo lo Ioly 2011 tbe compolqo bos tecelveJ tbe soppott of mooy mote bosloesses fotmets
coosomets otqoolsotloos fooJ wtltets ooJ cbefs

kepresent|ng the CkMI
llsabeLh 8yan Campalgn CoordlnaLor
kevln Sherldan ulrecLor Sherldans Cheesemongers
uavld 1lernan ualry larmer Cheese ,aker and 8aw ,llk producer
uarlna Allen Slow lood lreland
Independent Sc|ent|f|c kepresentat|ve
rofessor lrancls 8uLler Pead of School of 8lo sysLems nglneerlng uCu


We would llke Lo open by Lhanklng Lhe chalrman and members of Lhe commlLLee for allowlng us Lhe
opporLunlLy Lo presenL our vlews on Lhe lssues surroundlng Lhe proposed ban of Lhe sale of raw mllk
for dlrecL human consumpLlon

lf lL ls an accepLable formaL Lo Lhe commlLLee l (llsabeLh 8yan) wlll lnLroduce you Lo Lhe aLLendees
and provlde a brlef ouLllne of our campalgn
kevln Sherldan wlll Lhen speak Lo you abouL Lhe maln concerns we have ln relaLlon Lo Lhe proposed
ban on Lhe sale of raw llquld mllk
uarlna Allen would also llke Lo address you brlefly prlor Lo Lhe quesLlon perlod Lo speak abouL Lhe
wlder socleLal lmpllcaLlons ralsed by Lhls proposed ban

rofessor lrancls 8uLler wlll be avallable Lo answer quesLlons on Lhe occurrence of paLhogens ln raw
mllk and rlsk assessmenL ln foods as well as any oLher quesLlons of a speclflcally sclenLlflc naLure
whlch may arlse
uavld 1lernan larmer and roducer of raw mllk ls ln aLLendance Lo answer any speclflc quesLlons
concernlng hls experlence as a dalry farmer produclng raw mllk for sale

We would welcome quesLlons on any aspecLs of Lhe lssue

We lnLend Lo demonsLraLe LhaL Lhe recommendaLlon Lo Lhe governmenL LhaL Lhe sale of raw mllk be
banned ls an enLlrely dlsproporLlonaLe response Lo Lhe rlsks assoclaLed and LhaL Lhe wlder socleLal
lssues surroundlng Lhe ban of a naLural foodsLuff ralse serlous quesLlons abouL Lhe dlrecLlon of a
pollcy Lowards sLerlllsaLlon of our food aL Lhe expense of our herlLage and freedom of cholce We
have ma[or concerns ln relaLlon Lo Lhe ban and Lhe precedence whlch lL seLs
We recognlse LhaL Lhere are poLenLlal rlsks LheoreLlcally assoclaLed wlLh Lhe consumpLlon of raw
mllk we would also however polnL ouL LhaL Lhere are rlsks assoclaLed wlLh Lhe consumpLlon of all
food as well as lnherenLly ln almosL everyLhlng we do
We deslre LhaL a sysLem of regulaLlons deslgned Lo mlnlmlse Lhe rlsks assoclaLed wlLh Lhe sale of raw
mllk are devlsed and lmplemenLed lL ls our suggesLlon LhaL a reasonable compromlse Lo Lhls end ls
LhaL a plloL sLudy be esLabllshed ln order Lo assess Lhe Lrue rlsk assoclaLed wlLh Lhe sale of raw mllk
by farmers operaLlng Lo a hlgh code of pracLlse
resenLaLlon Lo SelecL ClreachLas CommlLLee on CommunlcaLlons naLural 8esources and
AgrlculLure Comblned uocumenLs

1hls lssue appears Lo cenLre on Lhe poLenLlal damage Lo lreland's food safeLy repuLaLlon a polnL
whlch we would dlspuLe


MAIN SU8S1ANCL CI CIN1S
1he C8,l are calllng for Lhe governmenL Lo cease Lhelr currenL plans for a draconlan ouLrlghL ban
We belleve LhaL everyone has a r|ght to choose Lo drlnk one of lreland's premlum producLs whlch
has a rlghLfully esLeemed place ln our food herlLage lnformed consumers should have Lhe rlghL Lo
declde for Lhemselves whaL Lhey eaL and drlnk

1he norma| procedure for food product|on |s to |ntroduce regu|at|ons Lo mlnlmlse any poLenLlal
rlsks Lo publlc healLh noL Lo lssue bans

ln 2008 a publlc consulLaLlon was underLaken regardlng Lhe sale of raw goaL's and sheep's mllk and
17 submlsslons were recelved Sheeps and goaLs mllk however accounLs for [usL 136 of LoLal mllk
ouLpuL ln lreland We cannoL undersLand why the government has not had a pub||c consu|tat|on |n
re|at|on to cows m||k Why also have requesLs made under lCl been denled?

Clven Lhe grow|ng consumer demand for raw m||k we belleve LhaL lL ls lnevlLable LhaL sales of raw
mllk on some level wlll conLlnue desplLe any ban A compleLe lack of regulaLlon poses a far greaLer
danger Lo publlc healLh Lhan would an educaLed sysLem of regulaLlons deslgned by Lhe governmenL
ln assoclaLlon wlLh relevanL sLakeholders from Lhe farmlng and food communlLles lL ls our bellef
LhaL Lhe governmenL should be worklng wlLh raLher Lhan agalnsL small farmers and LhaL Lhelr alm
should be Lo help farmers produce raw mllk safely

kaw m||k product|on |s a very rea| and v|ab|e bus|ness mode| for sma|| farmers servlclng Lhelr local
communlLles who could modlfy exlsLlng faclllLles ln order Lo boLLle onslLe wlLh only a relaLlvely
modesL lnvesLmenL and would be happy Lo operaLe under falr regulaLlons
CurrenLly farmers selllng Lhelr raw mllk Lo Coops geL around 33c per llLre 1hese farmers could sell
Lhelr raw mllk dlrecL Lo Lhe publlc aL a reLall prlce of approxlmaLely t130 t200 per llLre 1he
average prlce of a llLre of pasLeurlsed homogenlsed commerclallyprocessed mllk ln supermarkeLs
ranges from t120 t160

k|sks are |nherent |n a|| foods consumed as was demonsLraLed by Lhe recenL ouLbreak ln Cermany
CLher food are noL slmply banned CounLrles slmllarly rellanL on exporLs such as new Zealand allow
Lhe regulaLed sale of raw mllk as do many of our u nelghbours

We would welcome and encourage speclflc regulaLlons surroundlng Lhe producLlon and sale of raw
mllk ln order Lo mlnlmlse and manage poLenLlal rlsks As wlLh any oLher food proper regu|at|ons
are a|ways necessary and correct ln facL lL ls by no means deslrable LhaL every dalry farm ln
lreland be permlLLed Lo sell raw mllk
Powever by bannlng raw mllk we are sendlng Lhe message Lo Lhe world LhaL we don'L LrusL our
regulaLors we don'L LrusL our farmers and we don'L LrusL our mllk

Internat|ona| keputat|on of Ir|sh Da|ry
lnLernaLlonal repuLaLlon seems Lo be Lhe core lssue of concern
We wanL Lo ensure as does Lhe governmenL LhaL Lhe lrlsh dalry lndusLry conLlnues Lo flourlsh
1he deparLmenL of agrlculLure belleve LhaL by allowlng Lhe sale of raw mllk ln lreland we are rlsklng
serlous damage Lo our lnLernaLlonal repuLaLlon as a producer of 'safe' dalry foods We belleve LhaL
Lhls rlsk ls masslvely oversLaLed 1here ls no evldence LhaL a reporLed lllness ln lreland due Lo Lhe
consumpLlon of raw mllk would have any lmpacL on Lhe sale of pasLeurlsed dalry producLs
Accordlng Lo Lhe lSAl Lhere have been Lwo cases of lllness ln lreland due Lo consumpLlon of raw mllk
over Lhe pasL number of years nelLher of Lhese cases caused any harm Lo lreland dalry sales or
repuLaLlon lurLhermore lf Lhls ban ls lmplemenLed Lhe consumpLlon of raw mllk ln lreland wlll
decrease by only a very small percenLage and so any rlsk of an lllness due Lo Lhe consumpLlon of raw
resenLaLlon Lo SelecL ClreachLas CommlLLee on CommunlcaLlons naLural 8esources and
AgrlculLure Comblned uocumenLs

mllk wlll decrease by only Lhe smallesL margln as farmers and Lhelr famllles wlll conLlnue Lo drlnk
Lhelr own mllk ln Lurn Lhe rlsk Lo our lnLernaLlonal repuLaLlon wlll remaln lL could be argued LhaL by
deprlvlng Lhe publlc of a source of regulaLed raw mllk we wlll lncrease Lhe consumpLlon from
unregulaLed sources and so lncrease Lhe rlsk of lllness and ln Lurn Lhe poLenLlal of damage Lo our
lnLernaLlonal repuLaLlon
ln Lhe modern age of fasL communlcaLlon and soclal medla Lhere ls always a rlsk of mlslnformaLlon
spreadlng rapldly Lhls ls Lhe case for any of our food sLuffs or oLher lndusLrles we cannoL allow Lhe
fear of poLenLlal rumour and sensaLlonallsm Lo lnfluence Lhe declslons we make around Lhe rlghLs of
our clLlzens Lo consume Lhe foods of Lhelr cholce

A Way Iorward
Cne posslblllLy would be Lo lnLroduce a plloL programme whlch would allow for Lhe llmlLed sale of
raw mllk under conLrolled condlLlons by a small number of dalry farmers xacL sLlpulaLlons could be
agreed Lo by all parLles

roposal for an alLernaLlve Lo an ouLrlghL ban on Lhe sale of raw mllk

A worklng group ls seL up comprlslng of represenLaLlves of Lhe ueparLmenL of PealLh Lhe
ueparLmenL of AgrlculLure and Lhe lSAl along wlLh lndusLry represenLaLlves

1he group ls glven a flxed perlod of Llme Lo agree regulaLlons a code of besL pracLlse and
labelllng requlremenLs whlch would mlnlmlse Lhe publlc healLh rlsks from Lhe sale of raw
mllk buL would also allow for consumer cholce

uurlng Lhls perlod only llcensed dalrles LhaL are approved by uAll Lo process mllk for sale
would be allowed Lo sell llquld raw mllk

lnLerlm labelllng requlremenLs would be lnLroduced lmmedlaLely

AL Lhe end of Lhls perlod Lhe ,lnlsLer for AgrlculLure and ,lnlsLer for PealLh would be ln a
beLLer poslLlon Lo make an lnformed declslon based on Lhe alLernaLlve opLlon of regulaLed
sales versus an ouLrlghL ban



kLSCNSL 1C ISAI SU8MISSICN

1he followlng ls a dlrecL response Lo Lhe presenLaLlon made by Lhe lood SafeLy AuLhorlLy of lreland
Lo Lhls Lhe selecL commlLLee on CommunlcaLlons naLural 8esources and AgrlculLure
lease noLe LhaL lesL Lhls opporLunlLy for us Lo respond be seen as an advanLage all vlews of Lhe
campalgn have prevlously been communlcaLed Lo Lhe lSAl as well as belng avallable on our webslLe

kegu|at|on of the sa|e of Unpasteur|sed M||k

1lmellne from Lhe polnL of vlew of Lhe wlder publlc ln relaLlon Lo Lhe ban

A consulLaLlon was held ln 2008 relaLlng Lo 13 of llquld mllk le goaL's and sheep's mllk
1he 2006 u 8egulaLlons whlch allowed for sale of raw mllk unforLunaLely escaped Lhe noLlce of Lhe
food and farmlng communlLy unLll 2010 AfLer Lhe sLory was lnvesLlgaLed by [ournallsL lla
,cSweeney we reallsed LhaL sales were legal ConcurrenL Lo Lhls we were advlsed by Lhe lSAl of Lhe
lnLenLlon LhaL Lhe sale would be banned once agaln
Sales of raw mllk from a small number of producers followed and Lhe campalgn was formed earller
Lhls year

,alnLenance of Lhe SLaLus Cuo
resenLaLlon Lo SelecL ClreachLas CommlLLee on CommunlcaLlons naLural 8esources and
AgrlculLure Comblned uocumenLs


,any developmenLs ln herd managemenL hyglene and LesLlng mean LhaL prevlous laws enLlrely
prohlblLlng Lhe sale of raw mllk however long esLabllshed are no longer necessary

ln 2006 wlLh Lhe lnLroducLlon of new uropean regulaLlons on food hyglene boLh ulrecLlve
92/46/C and Sl no 9 of 1996 became redundanL As a resulL Lhe sLaLuLory basls for prohlblLlng
Lhe sale of raw mllk ceased
lL ls Lhe oplnlon of many LhaL currenL uropean hyglene regulaLlons (8egulaLlon 833/2004/C) are
already speclflc enough Lo effecLlvely regulaLe Lhe sale of raw mllk ln lreland laylng down as Lhey
do speclflc crlLerla for farmers engaged ln Lhe producLlon of raw mllk and raw mllk producLs for
dlrecL human consumpLlon

1he lSAl presenLaLlon advlsed Lhls commlLLee LhaL whaL ls currenLly proposed by Lhe ,lnlsLer for
AgrlculLure llsherles and lood ls ln reallLy a reLurn Lo Lhe sLaLus quo from 1996 however
developmenLs ln Lhe lasL flfLeen years have resulLed ln lncreased consumer demand for raw mllk as
well as changes ln our undersLandlng of herd managemenL and lncreased hyglene

lL ls well accepLed ln lreland aL Lhe momenL LhaL we need Lo apply new Lhlnklng Lo all sorLs of
dlfferenL pollcles 1he hlsLorlcal slLuaLlon wlLh Lhe legallLy of raw mllk should have no real lmpacL on
Lhe declslon we face now ln 2011 as Lo wheLher we should lmplemenL a ban on lLs sale


Adv|ce from the Iood Safety Author|ty of Ire|and

lL ls our bellef LhaL subsequenL Lo Lhe 2006 hyglene regulaLlons Lhe lSAl soughL Lo gaLher sclenLlflc
daLa ln order Lo supporL Lhelr concluslon LhaL raw mllk should be banned and LhaL 'Lhe sLaLus quo'
be malnLalned We however feel LhaL Lhe sLarLlng polnL should have been a blank slaLe wlLh a
speclflc sLudy carrled ouL Lo assess Lrue rlsk
We belleve LhaL Lhe sysLem whlch underlles Lhe recommendaLlon for a ban needs Lo be quesLloned
and unforLunaLely LhaL Lhls also ralses quesLlons abouL all of Lhe meLhods whlch Lhe lSAl use Lo
deLermlne food pollcy ln general
We also belleve LhaL a full publlc consulLaLlon on Lhe maLLer oughL Lo have been carrled ouL

ZoonoLlc 1uberculosls and lood SafeLy 2008
ln addlLlon Lo an excerpL provlded by Lhe lSAl Lhe flrsL concluslon drawn aL Lhe end of LhaL
documenL ls LhaL
cotteot lofotmotloo sbows tbot bomoo 2ooootlc tobetcolosls ls oocommoo lo ltelooJ

ln relaLlon Lo meaL Lhe same reporL says
1be tlsk lf ooy ftom tbe coosomptloo of meot solJ os meot fot bomoo coosomptloo followloq
offlclol coottols cooJocteJ by tbe competeot ootbotlty lo obottolts lo ltelooJ ls

ln a reporL Lo Lhe uk lood SLandards Agency by Lhe Advlsory CommlLLee on Lhe ,lcroblologlcal
SafeLy of lood complled Lhls year Lhey concluded LhaL Lhe rlsk of Lransmlsslon of 18 Lhrough raw
mllk ls
1he uk have approxlmaLely 20 Llmes Lhe naLlonal lncldence of 18 as does lreland and operaLes half
Lhe amounL of herd LesLs

ln relaLlon Lo mllk Lhe lSAl say LhaL low rlsk ls sLlll unaccepLable rlsk ln Lhelr own documenL Lhey
sLaLe Lhe rlsk from meaL also as very low" Why ls a very low rlsk accepLable for meaL buL noL for
mllk?


1he revenLlon of verocyLoLoxlgenlc scbetlcblo coll (v1C) lnfecLlon 2010
resenLaLlon Lo SelecL ClreachLas CommlLLee on CommunlcaLlons naLural 8esources and
AgrlculLure Comblned uocumenLs

ln Lhls reporL lL ls sLaLed on page 7 uolty fotmets coo mlolmlse tbe tlsk ossocloteJ wltb tbe
coosomptloo of tow mllk ooJ Jolty ptoJocts moJe wltb tow mllk by ptoctlcloq blqb byqleolc
stooJotJs Jotloq mllkloq

1able 14 loods |mp||cated or suspected of belng assoclaLed wlLh naLlonal and/or lnLernaLlonal
v1C ouLbreaks (AC 16)

,lnced meaL 8aw mllk Seed sprouLs (radlsh
alfalfacress)
urlnklng waLer (publlc
supplles prlvaLe wells)
8eefburgers asLeurlsed mllk Salad ,ayonnalse
lermenLed meaLs eg dry
salaml and pepperonl
Cheese (boLh from raw and
pasLeurlsed mllk
unpasLeurlsed apple [ulce
8ladeLenderlsed beef ?oghurL LeLLuce
Cooked meaLs unpasLeurlsed cream Splnach
oLaLoes

8aw ,llk ls llsLed agaln laLer as a poLenLlal source" of v1C
1he reporL descrlbes laLer LhaL ConLamlnaLlon can occur elLher durlng mllklng or posL pasLeurlsaLlon due Lo poor hyglene
pracLlces" and descrlbes how coll C137P7 can survlve durlng Lhe rlpenlng and exLended sLorage of some cheeses
(,aher et ol 2001 Schlesser et ol 2006) 1herefore raw mllk desLlned for cheese manufacLure may consLlLuLe a
poLenLlal source of lnfecLlon especlally wlLh respecL Lo sofL and semlsofL cheeses"

v1C lsolaLes have been ldenLlfled from bovlne and caprlne herds supplylng mllk Lo Lhe farmhouse cheese secLor ln
lreland (,urphy et ol 2007) AlLhough all producLs LesLed from Lhese holdlngs were v1C negaLlve lL ls posslble LhaL
v1C may be presenL perlodlcally"

1he above flndlngs ln our oplnlon do noL supporL Lhe concluslons drawn LhaL 1he pracLlce of consumlng
raw mllk and mllk producLs poses an unaccepLable rlsk Lo healLh"

8ecommendaLlons for a racLlcal ConLrol rogramme for CampylobacLer ln Lhe
oulLry roducLlon and SlaughLer Chaln
1hough sllghLly off Loplc lL ls worLh referrlng Lo Lhls documenL for Lwo reasons
llrsL for Lhe alarmlng sLaLlsLlcs LhaL 83 of commerclal chlckens presenLed for slaughLer LesLed
poslLlve for CampylobacLer and LhaL aL Lhe end of Lhe slaughLer process 98 carcasses were poslLlve
ln addlLlon 13 of exLernal labels LesLed poslLlve

1hls documenL ls relevanL Lo us here for Lhe followlng vlewpolnL whlch ls applled Lo chlckens lL ls
our bellef LhaL a slmllar mlndseL Lowards lnLroduclng regulaLlons for raw mllk should be applled
1blooloq ot pottlol Jepopolotloo ls o ptocess wbeteby o pottloo of o flock ls temoveJ fot slooqbtet
opptoxlmotely ooe week befote tbe temoloJet of tbe flock 1bls ptoctlce locteoses tbe tlsk of
lofectloo wltb compyloboctet spp 1be ooswets to tbe tlsk moooqemeot poestloos
oJJtesseJ lo tbls tepott ote moJe oo tbe bosls tbot tblooloq of flocks ls cotteot loJostty ptoctlce ooJ
tbot tbete ls oo lmmeJlote llkellbooJ tbot lt wlll be ellmlooteJ


1haL Lhe lSAl wlll noL recommend Lhe consumpLlon of raw mllk ls undenlable however Lhe lSAl
also does noL recommend parLlal depopulaLlon of Lhe flocks ln Lhe producLlon of chlcken elLher yeL
Lhey can sLlll recommend guldellnes surroundlng Lhls ln order Lo reduce rlsks


1ransmlsslon of 18
ngland and Wales wlLh a greaLly hlgher herd lncldence of 18 allow Lhe regulaLed sales of raw mllk
asLeurlsaLlon alone ln noL responslble for breaklng Lhe llnk
ln lreland raw mllk cheese producers herds are LesLed every 6 monLhs and Lhls Lhen ls consldered
accepLable for raw mllk cheese 1he same reglme can be puL ln place for farmers lnLendlng Lo
produce raw mllk for sale
resenLaLlon Lo SelecL ClreachLas CommlLLee on CommunlcaLlons naLural 8esources and
AgrlculLure Comblned uocumenLs

1he slngle case ln Lhe lasL decade whlch llnks consumpLlon Lo raw mllk occurred ln 2003 1hls farm
had a hlsLory of boLh 18 lndlcaLors and conflrmed cases ln Lhe herd ln Lhe years preceedlng 1hls
would have precluded Lhls parLlcular farm from selllng raw mllk under exlsLlng u regulaLlons

wblle tbe Aotbotlty tecoqolses tbot tbe stooJotJs of Jolty byqleoe ooJ oolmol beoltb bove
lmptoveJ qteotly lo teceot yeots lt ls vlttoolly lmposslble to ptoJoce tow mllk ooJet commetclol
ptoJoctloo cooJltloos tbot coo be qootooteeJ potboqeo ftee

Why musL raw mllk have zero rlsk?
1bete ls oo fooJ tbot ls obsolotely ftee of tlsk to tbe coosomet lottbetmote tbete ls oo woy to ellmloote
oll fooJbotoe llloesses ftom tbe coosomloq pobllc 1o set stooJotJs boseJ oo totolly ellmlootloq
fooJbotoe llloess ot boseJ oo o ptloclple of zeto toletooce ls oosoppotteJ by scleotlflc ptloclples lo
qeoetol ooJ pobllc beoltb scleoce lo speclflc u8 1u 8ALS 8SC ,SC ,u

8lsks ln raw mllk lnLended for pasLeurlsaLlon are besL conLrolled by pasLeurlsaLlon a remarkably
useful conLrol measure lndeed wlLh undenlable effecLlveness
Powever for Lhls very separaLe producL whlch we are dlscusslng 8aw ,llk Lhere do exlsL oLher
conLrol measures whlch can reduce rlsks

eer revlewed llLeraLure regardlng healLh beneflLs assoclaLed wlLh raw mllk does exlsL as each year
goes by we learn more and more abouL nuLrlLlon for example faLs are belng vlewed very dlfferenLly
now Lhan [usL a couple of years ago


What |s pasteur|sat|on?

lookloq bock ovet teceot blstoty posteotlsotloo of mllk wos ooe of tbe qteotest pobllc beoltb
ocblevemeots of tbe 20tb ceototy 5loce lt wos lottoJoceJ os tbe ootm fot motketloq mllk lt soveJ
tboosooJs of llves lo ltelooJ ooJ pteveoteJ eootmoos levels of bomoo soffetloq lo oJJltloo lt soveJ
tbe 5tote mlllloos of oto lo beoltb cote costs ooJ ptotecteJ tbe tepototloo of ltlsb uolty loJostty os
ptoJocets of sofe ooJ poollty ptoJocts

Oo bls JeotbbeJ lools losteot stoteJ tbot tbe 1ettolo ls evetytbloq tbe Cetm ls ootbloq
et bls wotk boseJ oo tbe tbeoty tbot tbe bomoo boJy ls stetlle ooJ tbot lottoJoceJ qetms ot
mlctobes coose Jlseose bos petslsteJ lo moJeto meJlcloe ootll telotlvely teceotly wbeteos we ote
beqlooloq oow to qolo oo ooJetstooJloq tbot tbe tettolo ot lotetool eovltoomeot ls tbe most
lmpottoot foctot to bomoo Jlseose

1he polnL here ls a wlder one abouL Lhe dlrecLlon ln whlch Lhe governmenL's pollcy Lowards food
safeLy ls Laklng Lhe healLh of our naLlon ln an efforL Lo proLecL us wlLhln a zero rlsk envlronmenL we
may well be golng down a paLh whlch lnsLead damages our populaLlon A naLlon of unexposed
sLerlle belngs uLLerly succepLable Lo all dlsease


Why ls Lhe urban populaLlon less lmmune could lL be llnked Lo our conLlnued excesslve food safeLy
pollcles?


1he lSAl now dlsmlsses Lhe ldea of uslng recorded cases of lllnesses Lhls sclenLlflc body lnsLead
prefers Lo rely on LheoreLlcal poLenLlal rlsks?
AL Lhe commencemenL of publlc debaLe relaLlng Lo Lhls campalgn Lhe lSAl referred ln Lhe medla and
durlng a publlc debaLe wlLh us Lo four lllnesses slnce belng asked Lo provlde full deLalls Lhls
dlmlnlshed flrsL Lo 3 and Lhen Lo 2 and now Lhey would raLher noL refer Lo any?
resenLaLlon Lo SelecL ClreachLas CommlLLee on CommunlcaLlons naLural 8esources and
AgrlculLure Comblned uocumenLs

Pavlng revlewed Lhe cases lL Lurns ouL LhaL lf regulaLed farmers were produclng Lhe mllk ln Lhe 2
documenLed cases Lhey would have been prevenLed from selllng as herd healLh would noL have meL
currenL crlLerla for Lhe producLlon of raw mllk

We esLlmaLe over 100'000 members of farmlng famllles consume raw mllk and Lhls ls from
unregulaLed farms where Lhe mllk ls desLlned for Lhe mosL parL for pasLeurlsaLlon lf raw mllk
consumpLlon were as rlsky as Lhe lSAl would have us belleve we would have a loL more Lhan 2 cases
of lllnesses ln Lhe lasL decade

1hls appears Lo be Lhe flrsL Llme slnce lLs lncepLlon LhaL Lhe lSAl's sclenLlflc evldence behlnd a pollcy
/ recommendaLlon has been broughL ln Lo quesLlon and we Lhlnk LhaL Lhere are sufflclenL quesLlons
relaLlng Lo Lhe sclenLlflc daLa Lo suggesL LhaL much more lnformaLlon ls requlred before Laklng such a
severe sLep as Lo lmplemenL Lhe ban of a naLural foodsLuff


What happens |n other countr|es?

1he lSAl have quoLed Lhe poslLlon of Lhe uk lSA Powever recenLly Lhe same body sLaLed ln
response Lo a requesL Lo Lhem by ualry uk LhaL pollcy be revlewed sLaLed
Ooe of oot scleotlflc commlttees lookeJ ot tbe tlsks of Jtlokloq tow mllk ooJ oftet cooslJetloq tbe
cooclosloos tbe oqeocy JlJ oot feel cbooqes to lts pollcy wete oecessoty 1be cotteot teqolotloos
sttlke o bolooce betweeo ptotectloq coosomet sofety ooJ ollowloq coosomet cbolce Aug 2011

1he followlng ls an excerpL from Lhe mlnuLes of a meeLlng of Lhe AC,Sl ln !anuary 2011

72 uoto ftom tbe neoltb ltotectloo Aqeocy oo ootbteoks of lofectloos lotestlool ulseose (llu) Joe to
tow mllk ooJ cteom wete sommotlseJ Ootbteoks of bomoo llloess Joe to tow Jtlokloq mllk betweeo
1992 ooJ 2002 tepteseoteJ o smoll ptopottloo of tbe totol oombet of tepotteJ fooJbotoe ootbteoks
Jotloq tbls petloJ No ootbteoks of llu Joe to tow mllk ot cteom boJ beeo tepotteJ lo tbe lost elqbt
yeots

8egardless of any labelllng requlremenLs Lhe only oLher counLrles ln urope where raw mllk ls ln facL
lllegal are uenmark Spaln and ScoLland

1he lSAl sLaLed LhaL ln Lhe unlLed SLaLes Lhe sale of raw mllk ls banned ln abouL 30 of Lhe SLaLes"

ln facL Sales of raw mllk are speclflcally banned ln 14 sLaLes ln Lhe uS 29 SLaLes allow sales ln some
form and 7 sLaLes have no speclflc regulaLlons


lL should be noLes LhaL whlle Lhe body lSAnZ ls revlewlng regulaLlons new Zealand has chosen Lo
apply dlfferenL regulaLlons speclflc Lo lLself Lhan are under revlew by lSAnZ ln relaLlon Lo raw mllk
and raw mllk producLs Lhey have chosen Lo Lake a dlfferenL paLh whlch allows for Lhe sale of raw
mllk and raw mllk cheeses whllsL AusLralla appears deLermlned Lo malnLaln prohlblLlon on all excepL
hard cooked cheese made wlLh raw mllk

Conc|us|on

1he advlce of Lhe lSAl cannoL of course be lgnored or dlsmlssed ouL of hand Powever lL musL be
balanced properly wlLh wlder socleLal lssues such as consumer cholce ,any oLher counLrles are of
Lhe same oplnlon and successfully conLlnue Lo sLrlke Lhls same balance

asLeurlsaLlon ls undenlably Lhe mosL wldely used and mosL effecLlve conLrol measure Lo allow Lhe
general publlc access Lo mllk and dalry produce lor Lhose who knowlngly wlsh Lo consume raw mllk
however oLher conLrol measures are avallable
resenLaLlon Lo SelecL ClreachLas CommlLLee on CommunlcaLlons naLural 8esources and
AgrlculLure Comblned uocumenLs



Lxcerpt from a De|ph| Study Invest|gat|on |nto the Ut|||ty of App|y|ng nACC
r|nc|p|es at Iarm Leve| to M|n|m|ze the k|sk of athogen|c 8acter|a |n Iarm
M||k

Introduct|on ] Lxp|anatory Notes from CkMI
8elow ls a shorL documenL whlch ls a slngle page excerpL from Lhe uelphl sLudy LhaL rofessor 8uLler
presenLed aL Lhe C'uonovan 8ossa lood SafeLy School ln ClonakllLy recenLly

1bls toble ls ooe of tbe sllJes l pteseoteJ ooJ ls ptobobly tbe most televoot lo tbe cotteot Jebote lt
tooks tbe oploloos of 27 tespooJeots Jtowo ftom 1eoqosc l5Al tbe uolvetsltles ooJ uAll wbo wete
oskeJ o setles of sttoctoteJ poestloos telotloq to tbe poteotlol oppllcotloo of nAccl lo Jolty fotms
1be tookloq sbowo oo tbe ottocbeJ Jocomeot ls esseotlolly o sommotloo of tbe scotes tbot tbe
loJlvlJool tespooJeot qove to eocb of tbe potboqeos lt teflects tbot tbese ote tbe potboqeos of
cooceto lo tow mllk bot Joes oot oJJtess tbe moqoltoJe of tbe tlsk rofessor lrancls 8uLler

1hls documenL Lhen provldes a brlef background Lo sclenLlflc oplnlon regardlng Lhe level of
paLhogens ln bulk Lank raw mllk and provldes a basls for Lhe !olnL ClreachLas CommlLLee Lo quesLlon
rofessor 8uLler on hls oplnlons of Lhe Lrue rlsk Lo publlc healLh of raw mllk based on hls sLudles
lL should be noLed LhaL Lhls sLudy refers Lo bulk Lank mllk and LhaL rofessor 8uLler may also have
relevanL oplnlons abouL dlfferlng poLenLlal levels of paLhogens where rlsk reducLlon measures may
have been puL ln place as ls suggesLed for Lhe producers of raw mllk for dlrecL human consumpLlon



rofessor Iranc|s 8ut|er nead of 8|osystems Schoo| of Lng|neer|ng UCD
fbuLler[ucdle
h 01 716 7473
,ob 087 414 7073
Lxcerpt from a De|ph| Study Invest|gat|on |nto the Ut|||ty of App|y|ng nACC
r|nc|p|es at Iarm Leve| to M|n|m|ze the k|sk of athogen|c 8acter|a |n Iarm
M||k
at Doy|e Iranc|s 8ut|er
UCD Schoo| of 8|osystems Lng|neer|ng

CuesLlon 6 8lsk rank Lhe paLhogens below from 1 Lo 3 ln order of lmporLance whlch ln your vlew
are a food safeLy rlsk ln raw bulk Lank mllk

aLhogen 8anklng
aLhogenlc coll 92
llstetlo mooocytoqeoes 81
5olmooello spp 33
complyoboctet jejool 31
5topbloccos ooteos 30
Mycoboctetlom pototobetcolosls 24
Mycoboctetlom bovls 19
8tocello obottos 17
Mycoboctetlom tobetcolosls 14


resenLaLlon Lo SelecL ClreachLas CommlLLee on CommunlcaLlons naLural 8esources and
AgrlculLure Comblned uocumenLs