Trappist Dairy recalls all milk products after new round of tests show excessive bacteria

Trappist Dairy has pulled all its milk products from supermarket shelves and convenience stores amid an ongoing bacteria scare.

Fresh tests by the government last night revealed tainted Trappist Dairy milk containing 260 times the safe legal limit for bacteria, which could potentially make those who drink it ill. The dairy producer recalled its entire product range.

Tests conducted by the Centre for Food Safety (CFS) last week revealed a sample of fresh milk, collected for routine testing, had a total bacterial count of 260 million per ml, far exceeding the limit of 30,000 per ml for pasteurised milk.

The food standards watchdog urged members of the public not to consume the affected batch of the product. Retailers are also being urged to stop using or selling the product concerned immediately.

Doctors previously said people who consumed the affected milk were likely to develop stomach aches and start vomiting. In rare cases, people could become severely dehydrated, though the risk of death was low.

“The fact that total bacterial count exceeding the legal limit indicates unsatisfactory hygienic conditions, but does not mean it would lead to food poisoning,” the Centre for Food Safety said.

“Nevertheless, it will be prudent for consumers who have bought the affected product to refrain from drinking it. The trade should also stop selling the affected product,” the statement added.