Josephus

I've never lived in the Bellingen area although I've passed through it countless times from the 1960s onward. Pretty place, I might even have moved there if it wasn't for the perceived risk of flooding. Can't recall hearing as much as a peep about residents carking in in droves due to tuberculosis or indeed anything else though.

It is not permissible to sell raw milk for human consumption in Australia, because raw milk carries an increased risk of harm to humans from organisms that might contaminate the raw milk. Salmonella, E. coli, Campylobacter, Cryptosporidium and others. In 1976 there was an outbreak of Salmonella poisoning around Whyalla in South Australia affecting more than 500 people caused by raw milk.

Consumed on farm, it carries a lower risk because the bacterial numbers are smaller, but even there it is not without risk and there were cases of illness in 1999 and 2000 in South Australia caused by raw milk consumption on farms. Once the milk is transported and stored, bacterial numbers can rapidly increase if there is a rise in the milk temperature. Once this happens, the numbers of bacteria grow exponentially and the risk of disease is high.

FSANZ has collated data on raw milk risks in Australia and internationally. http://archive.foodstandards.gov.au/_srcfiles/P1007%20PPPS%20for%20raw%20milk%201AR%20SD1%20Cow%20milk%20Risk%20Assessment.pdf

Yes we can stick a health label on lots of restrictive practices, where government & industry get together to prevent competition from the individual.

Got to protect Woollies & Coles profit margins don't you know. How are they going to sell all that imported food, if uppity farmers go into competition with them.

I remember a while back, when the Bundaberg tomato farmers were getting less than the cost of the carton & freight for their tomatoes sent to Brisbane markets.

The authorities turned a blind eye to most of them selling some from the farm gate, to get enough money for other food, but one went too far & got sat on.

He, dreadful criminal that he was, loaded his truck with cartons of the things, & drove to Hervey Bay, where he sold them to the public. He was arrested. Hadn't paid the council for the right permit.

He set up in private property, but they got him there too for something. I don't think they could pull the health one there, but what ever it was, they stopped the people of Hervey bay getting cheep tomatoes. They still paid $4.50 a kilo.

Oh & you had better watch that raw milk, it's dangerous stuff. Yes it is, no kidding. When I was milking a couple after school, you only had to miss the bucket & get one squirt on your boot to find that out. In just a few weeks, boots that would usually last years would rot out, almost before your eyes.

So drink the stuff if you must, [I love it], but don't get it on you, unless you're made of something tougher than leather.

Truth be known, it wasn't an adder, [or a snake in the grass], that killed Cleopatra, it was actually all that bathing in ass milk that did her in.

Don't the health food shops sell this product as bath milk?

Let the people eat milk the way they choose. If you own a cow you cannot stop people from drinking the animal's milk. If a person gets sick they get treated at a hospital which is funded by all taxpayers and so what.

People also smoke, drink too much, get into fights, eat too much food, have car accidents, trip over tree roots, have workplace accidents, all putting a so called 'burden' on the health system.

I say again ...so what. The health sytem is there to work for us with all our human foibles and failings. Just let people be.

pelican,

Governments get involved because there are health risks. In the same way they get involved with food handling, anti-smoking campaigns, anti-drinking campaigns, road safety campaigns, healthy eating campaigns, domestic violence campaigns and so on. It is in the Governments interests to invest in prevention in these areas, rather than having to spend on hospitals to pick up the sick afterwards. 500 people falling ill from consuming raw milk is no small matter and requires Government intervention to protect the consumer.

Wong welcome.
Sorry about that, as the once country party red necks once shouted across the floor of Parliament.
Some of these so and so,s have never milked a cow.
Let it stand while you wash your hands and get it in ya.
But be aware it will taste different, like real milk!
Full cream no added water!