Bay battles to dry up illegal sale of raw milk

NELSON Mandela Bay Municipality's public health inspectors are being thwarted in their efforts to stop the illegal sale of raw milk by hawkers, who refuse to divulge where they get their produce from.

The sale of raw or unpasteurised milk is common practice even though it can harbour dangerous micro-organisms, posing serious health risks to those who consume it.

Municipal spokesman Kupido Baron said in the last six months three cases of hawkers selling raw milk were reported to the municipality.

Raw milk can carry harmful bacteria such as salmonella, E.coli and listeria. It can spread a number of diseases including tuberculosis, anthrax and brucellosis, also known as Malta fever, and cause food poisoning and bacterial infections. - Estelle Ellis