Warning issued over drinking raw milk

MPI is warning consumers to be careful of unpasteurised milk. Photo / iStock

If you love nothing more than slurping on a glass of raw milk, take care - it's considered a "high-risk food" by the Ministry for Primary Industries.

MPI is warning consumers to be careful of unpasteurised milk after a recent spike in people with food-borne illnesses linked to raw milk.

Raw milk has not been pasteurised to kill harmful bacteria such as campylobacter or salmonella, MPI said.

MPI animal products director Matthew Stone said it was particularly important for pregnant women, children and elderly people to understand the risks, which can include death in severe cases.

"Many people who drink raw milk do not always fully understand the risks and don't realise that there is the possibility of getting sick from the harmful bacteria in the milk

"We have seen a number of recent cases of foodborne illnesses linked to raw milk and it's important that consumers remember and understand that there are risks with drinking raw milk."

Mr Stone said there was always a risk harmful bacteria could get into milk, no matter how carefully the animals were milked.

Keeping raw milk refrigerated, heating it to 70C for one minute before drinking and discarding raw milk which has been left out of the fridge at room temperature would reduce the risk of harmful bacteria, he said.

"There is no way of telling by taste, sight or smell if the milk you are drinking contains any harmful bacteria ... People who choose to drink raw milk should make sure they are getting their milk directly from the farmer and are only buying it for personal and household consumption."

Go to foodsmart.govt.nz/rawmilk for more information.