Léim ar aghaidh chuig an bpríomhábhar
Gnáthamharc

Raw Milk Products

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 22 September 2011

Thursday, 22 September 2011

Ceisteanna (221, 222, 223, 224, 225)

Dominic Hannigan

Ceist:

221 Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the total number of illnesses and or deaths of persons conclusively linked to the consumption of raw milk since 2001; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25624/11]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Dominic Hannigan

Ceist:

228 Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food further to Parliamentary Question No. 587 of 21 July 2011, if he will publish the evidence that was quoted in same as his Department having in its possession, that shows raw milk consumption is a danger to food safety and public health; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25617/11]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Dominic Hannigan

Ceist:

229 Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the difference in the risk analysis between legally permitted foods manufactured from raw milk, specifically, soft cheese, butter or yoghurt in comparison to raw liquid milk; if he will provide documentation on same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25618/11]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Dominic Hannigan

Ceist:

230 Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will reconsider the question of production and sale of raw milk under a licence system; if he will consider working with stakeholders on a pilot system incorporating geographically dispersed producers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25619/11]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Dominic Hannigan

Ceist:

231 Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will provide details of the numbers of illnesses and or deaths conclusively associated with the consumption of raw milk since 2001; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25620/11]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I propose to take Questions Nos. 221 and 228 to 231, inclusive, together.

My Department's dairy science and veterinary experts and the independent scientific committee of the Food Safety Authority of Ireland have strongly advised that there are serious health risks associated with drinking raw milk. Disease risks include TB, Brucellosis, E. coli O157, Campylobacter and Salmonella. There have been incidents of these in Ireland and other countries in recent years. Resulting illnesses can be serious and on occasion fatal.

The proposed ban on the sale of raw milk for direct human consumption is not new. Sale of raw cows milk was banned for many years (from 1997 till 2006) by my Department; and previously by most local authorities. The ban lapsed due to a change in EU legislation in 2006.

It is important to note in this context that the ban will not apply to making cheese using raw milk. The cheese making process takes time and this provides an opportunity to withdraw product from sale in the event of a problem arising with the source milk. The cheese making process also prevents growth of pathogens and in some cases encourages slow decline in numbers of some pathogens.

A number of artisan food producers are pasteurising raw whole milk and are licensed by my Department in this regard. These artisans are very successfully marketing liquid whole milk, ice cream, different flavoured yoghurts and artisan farmhouse cheeses. I am advised by the FSAI that meaningful differences in nutritional value between pasteurised and unpasteurised milk have not been demonstrated and these artisans clearly show that pasteurised whole milk can be used in the manufacture of safe and quality dairy products.

Regulation allowing sale of raw milk for direct human consumption, on a restricted basis, would be difficult and costly to implement and would still not eliminate the serious health risks.

There is no formal system for notifying disease outbreaks related to the consumption of raw milk. It is not possible therefore to provide exact numbers of illnesses or deaths related to consumption of raw milk. However, I have been advised by the FSAI of a number of cases in Ireland in recent years which have resulted in serious health problems.

The FSAI recommends therefore that the sale of unpasteurised milk from all farm animals which is intended for direct human consumption should be prohibited; and advises that the most effective way to protect public health is to ensure that such milk is pasteurised.

The prevalence of TB in herds in Ireland puts us in a different position to most other Member States in the EU where the disease has been eradicated. It is inappropriate that Ireland should adopt the same approach to the consumption of raw milk as countries that do not have the same difficulty with TB and therefore have no associated risk.

The ban will not apply to the consumption of raw milk which has not been placed on the market — e.g. a dairy farmer drinking milk from his/her own cows. Such a ban is not possible under the law and in any event would be unenforceable. However, it is recommended to avoid this practice for health reasons.

Ireland exports over €2bn worth of dairy products each year; and is the leading producer of infant formula with about 15% of the world market. Any food scare associated with raw Irish milk could have major implications for our dairy industry. The recent E. coli outbreak in Germany, resulting in 46 deaths, 782 cases of HUS (haemolytic uraemic syndrome, a serious kidney condition) and 3,128 known cases of VTEC, indicates the scale of possible risks associated with raw food.

In all the circumstances I am satisfied that a ban on the sale of raw milk for direct human consumption is justified.

Section 54 of the Health Act of 1947 has been identified as the appropriate primary legislation for the renewal of the ban and it is intended to bring forward a Statutory Instrument under that Act for signature by the Minister for Health. The latest indicative timeframe for the introduction of the S.I. is end 2011, which includes allowance for a 3-month EU notification period.

Barr
Roinn