Consumers assured dairy products safe despite FMD outbreak

Milk South Africa has assured customers that dairy products remain safe to consume despite the foot and mouth disease outbreak.

In his State of the Nation Address (SONA) last week, President Cyril Ramaphosa classified foot and mouth as a national crisis.

Milk SA has welcomed the President’s declaration saying it will enable the mobilisation of additional government resources and ensures that the disease is addressed more effectively.

In a statement, Milk SA CEO Nico Fouché says although the foot and mouth disease can severely affect the health of dairy cattle and other cloven-hoofed animals and even cause the death of such animals, humans are not susceptible to the virus.

He says the consumption of dairy products such as pasteurised milk, long-life milk, yoghurt, maas, cheese and butter pose no risk of humans being adversely affected by the disease.