Raw milk - boiling protects against infection with Campylobacter

It is known that raw milk can contain microorganisms that are harmful to health. In light of the increasing number of machines where raw milk is sold via raw milk vending systems, the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) has assessed the risk for food infections with the Campylobacter bacterium resulting from the milk dispensed from these raw milk vending machines. The assessment also addresses the question of whether the more frequent occurrence of outbreaks of illness due to Campylobacter infections (Campylobacter enteritis or Campylobacteriosis) could be associated with the increase in the number of points of sale for raw milk and in particular raw milk vending machines. As there are no validated empirical data, the preliminary assessment of the BfR is based on the working hypothesis that changes in consumer behaviour entailing the increased consumption of raw milk from the so-called "milk vending machines" is leading to more frequent outbreaks of Campylobacter. One of the main sources of contamination of the raw milk is faecal contamination during the milking process. Unlike most known foodborne pathogens, these bacteria cannot multiply in the raw milk. However, just a few Campylobacter cells are enough to cause infection. The BfR therefore advises consumers to always comply with the instruction displayed at the point of sale stating "raw milk – boil before consumption". The BfR also advises against preparing and consuming non-heated ("cold") cocoa drinks or other milkshakes made from raw milk both directly on-site and at home (also see the BfR FAQ on the consumption of raw milk http://www.bfr.bund.de/cm/349/questions-and-answers-on-the-consumption-of-raw-milk.pdf ). The full version of this BfR Information is available in German on http://www.bfr.bund.de/cm/343/rohmilch-abkochen-schuetzt-vor-infektionen-mitcampylobacter.pdfDE; de; efsa-focal-point@bfr.bund.d