October 29th, 2007
Canoe.ca is reporting that more than HALF of Ontario milk producers are washing equipment with water containing coliform and E. coli in contravention of the Ontario Milk Act regulations. In at least 100 cases across the province, farmers are using untreated water from a river or ditch to rinse off milking equipment. No related illnesses have been confirmed among consumers, most of whom only drink milk after it's pasteurized. Still, it's a milk-safety risk that the Dairy Farmers of Ontario plan to eliminate.
The surprisingly high contamination findings come from four years of testing conducted by DFO (DFO is the producer operated marketing board responsible for distribution of all fluid milk in the province.). Starting sometime in 2008, the board will begin implementing mandatory potable water standards for equipment cleaning under the Canadian Milk Quality Assurance Program.
Some farmers have been frustrated in their attempts to install purification systems, which later failed and are now "sitting idle in a corner of the barn." The DFO is instructing farmers on water testing, well maintenance, shocking wells, surface water challenges and overall management practices.
No injuries or infections have occurred in this instance but something must be done as it is possible to spread the bacteria through milk!
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