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Legislative Council - Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2)
2013-06-04 Daily Xml
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Ministerial Statement

RAW MILK

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, Minister for Forests, Minister for Regional Development, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for State/Local Government Relations) (14:22): I seek leave to make a ministerial statement.

Leave granted.

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: South Australia, along with every other Australian jurisdiction, prohibits the sale of raw cow's milk. On 14 May 2013, officers from Biosecurity SA and the general management of the Dairy Authority of South Australia visited a farm in Willunga following information that raw cow's milk was being distributed to the public. A dairy farm in South Australia has been operating a cow share scheme to, allegedly, circumvent the law that prohibits the sale of raw cow's milk to the public. I understand that since being visited by Biosecurity SA a public meeting has been held of shareholders which was attended by some members of the Legislative Council.

Everyone in our community is entitled to expect that the food they consume is safe and not harmful. Food Standards Australia and New Zealand (FSANZ), the national authority which sets standards applicable to all jurisdictions, has recently completed a four-year review of unpasteurised milk, taking into account the latest literature and scientific findings. They concluded that raw milk is too risky to allow distribution to the public. It has stated:

...even extremely good hygiene procedures won't ensure dangerous pathogens aren't present. Complications from bacteria that can contaminate these products can be extremely severe, such as haemolytic uraemic syndrome, or HUS, which can result in renal failure and death in otherwise healthy people.

Those most at risk are the vulnerable in our community—children and the elderly, pregnant women and the immune-compromised, such as those undergoing chemotherapy.

All dairy businesses in South Australia must be accredited to ensure that they meet minimum food safety standards and practise good hygiene. This legal requirement means that heat treating/pasteurisation is undertaken so that the risk of dangerous bacteria is reduced and hygiene standards are maintained. The system is under the supervision of the Dairy Authority of South Australia, which enforces these standards and works with the industry to improve practices in our state.

I am advised that the testing of milk taken for identification from the Willunga premises showed that the milk's bacteria content exceeded the national standard set by FSANZ (standard 1.6.1). I am advised that the cause of such bacteria levels could be contamination with faeces or other matter. I am further advised that, in some cases, no labelling at all has been found on the milk coming from these premises. This would mean that the produce carries no health warnings, such as the fact that unpasteurised milk can be unsafe for vulnerable people in the community, such as pregnant women, or use by dates.

The government supports value-adding to primary products, including dairy products, and has provided extensive support to groups such as artisan cheesemakers and specialist milk producers. It has supported new marketing opportunities, such as regional farmers markets; however, the government does not support enterprises which do not meet our regulations and national standards, which are in place to protect consumers' health. It is not only unfair to all of the other businesses in South Australia which strive each day to ensure that their products are of a high standard and are fit for human consumption; it is also unfair to those who could unknowingly consume this product unaware of the risks to their health.

The South Australian government will not gamble with the good reputation of our dairy industry, nor with the health of vulnerable individuals in our community. A food safety breach is a risk to the reputation and viability of the whole sector. The science demonstrates that even extremely good hygiene procedures will not ensure that dangerous pathogens are not present. Raw cow's milk is not permitted for sale because there is a safer alternative readily available, which is pasteurisation.

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