Raw milk has a diverse microbial flora which can include pathogens transmissible to humans.

The main microbiological hazards associated with raw milk from milking animals can be identified using a decision tree approach, considering the evidence of milk-borne infection and the hazards being present and the impact of potential hazards on human health for example Campylobacter spp., Salmonella spp., shigatoxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC), Brucella abortus and Mycobacterium bovis.

Antimicrobial resistance has been reported in South Africa in some of the main bacterial hazards isolated from raw milk or associated equipment and is very important to public health. The sale of raw milk for direct human consumption by means of the use of “retail bulk milk tanks” is permitted in some municipal jurisdictions without consumers purchasing such milk, instructed to boil the milk before consumption, which would eliminate microbiological risks.

With respect to internet sales of raw milk (destined for direct human consumption), there is a need for microbiological, temperature, and storage time data to assess the impact of this distribution route.

Intrinsic contamination of raw milk with pathogens can arise from animals with systemic infection as well as from localised infections such as mastitis. Extrinsic contamination can arise from faecal contamination and from the wider farm environment including poor personal and equipment hygiene. In the absence of proper control measures that can significantly reduce risk relative to a baseline of legal standards, and expected good practice, the potential for an increase in risk is a given.

The question however remains – How successful are the control measures regarding the consumption of raw milk for direct consumption currently or are South African consumers at risk?