Is your milk safe? Food Safety Australia issues urgent recall on ‘Australian owned’ milk product
- Replies 9
In a world where we're increasingly conscious about the origins and safety of our food, it's disconcerting to hear about recalls, especially when it comes to something as fundamental as milk.
A popular Australian dairy brand has issued an urgent recall of one of its milk products due to concerns over potential contamination.
This recall serves as a reminder to stay vigilant about food safety and to always heed product warnings to ensure the health and well-being of all.
The recent recall by Gippsland Jersey has raised eyebrows and concerns among consumers, particularly those who are loyal to local dairy products.
The recall of the 750ml glass-bottled milk with an August 13 expiry date due to listeria monocytogenes contamination is a stark reminder of the importance of food safety standards.
‘Dear valued customers, we regret to inform you that a recent batch of Gippsland Jersey Unhomogenised 750ml glass-bottled milk dated August 13 is being recalled due to quality concerns that do not meet our stringent testing standards for food safety,’ Co-founder Steve Ronalds stated.
Listeria monocytogenes, the bacterium found in the recalled milk batches, is not something to take lightly.
According to Food Standards Australia, it's known to cause listeriosis, a serious infection that can be particularly dangerous for vulnerable groups such as pregnant women, newborns, the elderly, and those with weakened immune systems.
‘The general population can also become ill from consuming food contaminated with listeria monocytogenes,’ they said.
‘Consumers should not eat these products,’ Food Standards Australia cautioned.
‘Consumers should return the products to the place of purchase for a full refund.’
‘Any consumers concerned about their health should seek medical advice,’ the recall continued.
The milk products in question were reportedly sold at Lamanna, Eggporium, Lean and Green, Pambula Fresh, Richie’s IGA Paynesville, David Luckes, Mallacoota Foodworks, and Moontree stores.
The recall has affected not only the 750ml bottles but also the company’s 2L Unhomogenised milk sold in Cooma, NSW.
Mr Ronalds expressed regret over the incident, saying, ‘At Gippsland Jersey, we take food safety very seriously, and we apologise for any inconvenience this recall may cause.’
The recall is another setback for the struggling independent dairy producer, which faced a significant challenge when retail giant Coles chose to stop stocking Gippsland milk in most of its stores.
‘This decision by Coles overlooks the broader impact on family farms and rural communities, which depend on the viability of local dairy businesses like Gippsland Jersey to provide jobs and transport, etc. and more importantly, you would think in giving consumers a choice,’ Mr Ronalds and fellow Co-founder Sallie Jones said at the time.
Gippsland Jersey milk, known for being ‘proudly independent and Australian-owned’, was available in approximately 200 Coles stores.
A spokesperson for Coles stated that the company is dedicated to selling the brand ‘where we see [the] most demand for this local brand from customers’.
‘Giving customers choice when shopping is an important part of our offer at Coles,’ the spokesperson stated.
‘To ensure we have the right products available on [the] shelf, we regularly review the ranges on offer to understand how items are being received by customers and to help ensure the right products can be purchased by shoppers in parts of the country where there is most demand.’
‘We remain committed to continuing to support independent and local producers, and from July, we will focus on selling Gippsland Jersey in 16 stores in Victoria where we see [the] most demand for this local brand from customers,’ they added.
Ms Jones and Mr Ronalds cautioned that local dairy farmers are fighting to survive.
‘Reduced milk prices will mean that more farmers will be questioning whether they sell up or change what they do with their land,’ they explained.
‘Despite the assumption that higher retail prices mean better earnings for farmers, the reality is starkly different.’
‘Many dairy farmers struggle to maintain their livelihoods, let alone invest in necessary bank repayments, farm upgrades, or retain their employees.’
‘It is a widespread issue affecting many family-run dairy farms across the nation,’ they added.
Have you been affected by the Gippsland Jersey recall? Do you have thoughts on supporting local dairy farmers? Share your experiences and opinions in the comments below.
A popular Australian dairy brand has issued an urgent recall of one of its milk products due to concerns over potential contamination.
This recall serves as a reminder to stay vigilant about food safety and to always heed product warnings to ensure the health and well-being of all.
The recent recall by Gippsland Jersey has raised eyebrows and concerns among consumers, particularly those who are loyal to local dairy products.
The recall of the 750ml glass-bottled milk with an August 13 expiry date due to listeria monocytogenes contamination is a stark reminder of the importance of food safety standards.
‘Dear valued customers, we regret to inform you that a recent batch of Gippsland Jersey Unhomogenised 750ml glass-bottled milk dated August 13 is being recalled due to quality concerns that do not meet our stringent testing standards for food safety,’ Co-founder Steve Ronalds stated.
Gippsland Jersey urgently recalls its 750ml glass-bottled and 2L unhomogenised milk due to listeria monocytogenes contamination. Credit: FSANZ
Listeria monocytogenes, the bacterium found in the recalled milk batches, is not something to take lightly.
According to Food Standards Australia, it's known to cause listeriosis, a serious infection that can be particularly dangerous for vulnerable groups such as pregnant women, newborns, the elderly, and those with weakened immune systems.
‘The general population can also become ill from consuming food contaminated with listeria monocytogenes,’ they said.
‘Consumers should not eat these products,’ Food Standards Australia cautioned.
‘Consumers should return the products to the place of purchase for a full refund.’
‘Any consumers concerned about their health should seek medical advice,’ the recall continued.
The milk products in question were reportedly sold at Lamanna, Eggporium, Lean and Green, Pambula Fresh, Richie’s IGA Paynesville, David Luckes, Mallacoota Foodworks, and Moontree stores.
The recall has affected not only the 750ml bottles but also the company’s 2L Unhomogenised milk sold in Cooma, NSW.
Mr Ronalds expressed regret over the incident, saying, ‘At Gippsland Jersey, we take food safety very seriously, and we apologise for any inconvenience this recall may cause.’
The recall is another setback for the struggling independent dairy producer, which faced a significant challenge when retail giant Coles chose to stop stocking Gippsland milk in most of its stores.
‘This decision by Coles overlooks the broader impact on family farms and rural communities, which depend on the viability of local dairy businesses like Gippsland Jersey to provide jobs and transport, etc. and more importantly, you would think in giving consumers a choice,’ Mr Ronalds and fellow Co-founder Sallie Jones said at the time.
Gippsland Jersey milk, known for being ‘proudly independent and Australian-owned’, was available in approximately 200 Coles stores.
A spokesperson for Coles stated that the company is dedicated to selling the brand ‘where we see [the] most demand for this local brand from customers’.
‘Giving customers choice when shopping is an important part of our offer at Coles,’ the spokesperson stated.
‘To ensure we have the right products available on [the] shelf, we regularly review the ranges on offer to understand how items are being received by customers and to help ensure the right products can be purchased by shoppers in parts of the country where there is most demand.’
‘We remain committed to continuing to support independent and local producers, and from July, we will focus on selling Gippsland Jersey in 16 stores in Victoria where we see [the] most demand for this local brand from customers,’ they added.
Ms Jones and Mr Ronalds cautioned that local dairy farmers are fighting to survive.
‘Reduced milk prices will mean that more farmers will be questioning whether they sell up or change what they do with their land,’ they explained.
‘Despite the assumption that higher retail prices mean better earnings for farmers, the reality is starkly different.’
‘Many dairy farmers struggle to maintain their livelihoods, let alone invest in necessary bank repayments, farm upgrades, or retain their employees.’
‘It is a widespread issue affecting many family-run dairy farms across the nation,’ they added.
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