Milk is Poison – Part 2

How it effects human health

A problem is identified when milk contains 300,000 pus cells per ml of milk

In general, a bulk milk somatic cell count
(BMSCC) greater than 300,000 cells/mL of milk is considered a clear indication of herd infection and warrants further identification of individual lactating animals

However, the reported threshold level of SC varies widely between countries.

The Following countries allow 400,000 Pus cells per ml

The European Union, New Zealand, Switzerland, Australia and Canada have all
ruled that a BMSCC exceeding 400,000 cells/mL is not allowed for consumption.

USA ALLOWS 750,000 PUS CELLS per ml

In contrast, the United States pasteurized milk ordinance considered up to 750,000 cells/mL acceptable
A high milk SCC is a human health concern, a fact which has recently gained attention in national mastitis council (NMC) discussions.

MILK CONTAINS PATHOGENS : ECOLI, STAPHYLOCOCCUS AURES, STREPTOCOCCUS ALGALACTIAE

Many causative pathogens of human diseases (i.e. E. coli, Staphylococcus
aureus, Streptococcus agalactiae)

“E. coli produces a toxin which is able to rupture and destroy red blood cells. The destruction of the cells can lead to a serious condition called hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS) and kidney failure.”

Food Hygiene

Staphylococcus aureus from PUS in milk can cause Sepsis, Pneumonia, Endocarditis, HEART FAILURE , STROKE, BONE INFECTION

Staphylococcus aureus [staf I lō-kok is aw ree us] (staph), is a type of germ that about 30% of people carry in their noses. Most of the time, staph does not cause any harm; however, sometimes staph causes infections. In healthcare settings, these staph infections can be serious or fatal, including:

• Bacteremia or sepsis when bacteria spread to the bloodstream.
• Pneumonia, which most often affects people with underlying lung disease including those on mechanical ventilators.
• Endocarditis (infection of the heart valves), which can lead to heart failure or stroke.
• Osteomyelitis (bone infection), which can be caused by staph bacteria traveling in the bloodstream or put there by direct contact such as following trauma (puncture wound of foot or intravenous (IV) drug abuse) Source

Also cause of intra-mammary infections in cattle and high milk SCC making the milk hazardous for human consumption

While pasteurization is capable of
killing the majority of pathogenic bacteria found in milk, some bacteria, such as Mycobacterium avium, Mycobacterium paratuberculosis, Listeria monocytogenes,
Bacillus spp. and Clostridium spp. can still survive
Pasteurisation also cannot neutralize the toxins already released by the pathogenic bacteria.

High level of SCC is a good indicator of farm hygiene and unpasteurised milk and milk products can transmit even wider range
of pathogenic bacteria for human health risk.

Source: Effects of Somatic Cells on Human Health