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NZFSA advises caution for some consumers on raw milk cheeses

5 September 2007

The Minister for Food Safety, Annette King, today launched a range of new information brochures and material developed by the New Zealand Food Safety Authority (NZFSA) to update messages to consumers on raw milk cheeses.

Up until now, very few raw milk cheeses have been available in New Zealand but recent changes to food laws mean that Roquefort, a semi-hard raw milk cheese from France and some Italian hard-grating cheeses, can now be directly imported into the country.

NZFSA expects that consumers will see more of them in speciality shops and on restaurant menus, which is good news for connoisseurs, but NZFSA is advising caution for certain at-risk groups.

Babies and toddlers, the frail elderly, expectant mothers and anyone whose immune system could be compromised because of a chronic illness, long-term medication or a recent operation should avoid Roquefort cheese. The hard-grating raw milk cheeses are not such a risk as hard cheeses have less moisture and therefore do not support the growth of pathogens as much as softer cheeses. People who fall into the vulnerable groups are at a higher risk of getting a foodborne illness and the consequences could be more severe, so they should avoid raw milk cheeses and only eat pasteurised cheeses.

The information material includes:

• a point-of-sale brochure

• a wallet card designed for pregnant women which includes positive messages about safe and healthy eating throughout pregnancy

• a wallet card for other at-risk groups about making safe food choices

• a fact sheet for health professionals to display and give to their clients.

The resources will be distributed to doctors’ surgeries and cheese outlets and can be downloaded from NZFSA’s website (www.nzfsa.govt.nz) or obtained by calling our consumer help line on 0800NZFSA1 (0800 693 721).

Ends

For further information contact: Philippa Ross-James (NZFSA Communications:
04 894 2552 or 029 894 2528

For further comment contact: Andrew McKenzie, NZFSA Acting Chief Executive: 04 894 2502 or 029 894 2502.