The UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) is to develop a strategy designed to reduce the presence of Mycobacterium paratuberculosis (MAP) in milk.
The announcement follows a survey commissioned by the FSA that claims approximately 2% of pasteurised milk samples in the UK contain the bacteria. Some scientists have linked MAP to the bowel disorder in humans known as Crohn’s disease, although this has not been proven. The FSA believes that ways of reducing exposure to the bacteria should still be actively explored and wants to work with consumers and representatives of the industry to find the most effective way of tackling the issue.
The UK dairy industry has been taking steps towards eradicating the bacteria for some time now. Two years ago, a majority of dairies voluntarily chose to increase pasteurisation time from ten seconds at 70