BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment FAQ of 27 July 2016
Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is a viral disease transferred by ticks in most cases. In severe cases, infection can lead to an inflammation of the central nervous system.
As there are also isolated reports of consumers contracting an infection with TBE through the consumption of raw milk, the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment) has compiled the following questions and answers on the subject.
[Accordion] Questions and answers on the transfer of TBE viruses through raw milk
The TBE virus is transferred by tick bites in most cases, but (domestic) animals can also become infected through tick bites. When this happens, the virus propagates in the body and can be excreted through milk for a period of a few days. It is therefore possible for consumers to contract a TBE infection through the consumption of raw milk.
TBE occurs mainly in spring and summer, depending on the activities of the virus-bearing ticks, but cases of TBE have also been reported in autumn and occasionally in winter too if the weather is warm enough.
Ticks, which transfer the TBE virus, are to be found in many European countries as well as in Russia and Asia. On the basis of documented cases of TBE, the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) publishes maps every year showing the TBE risk areas in Germany. The TBE endemic areas in which a significantly increased risk of infection is substantiated by periodic cases of disease are defined as risk areas.
The most significant TBE risk areas in Germany are in the federal states of Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria and southern parts of Hesse and Thuringia. In addition to this, certain administrative districts in Rhineland-Palatinate (Birkenfeld district), Saarland (Saar-Pfalz district) and Saxony (Vogtlandkreis district) are also affected. The RKI has published an updated map of the TBE risk areas in Germany on its website: External Link:www.rki.de/TBE
Because raw milk is sold to consumers without any homogenisation or heat treatment (e.g. pasteurisation) and with its natural fat content, it can contain disease-causing bacteria, such as Salmonella, Campylobacter, enterohaemmorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHECshort forenterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli) or viruses. Some of these so-called zoonotic pathogens can cause severe diseases.
To protect against diseases, the sale of raw milk is fundamentally forbidden in Germany. An exception to this is "farmhouse milk". Farmers who offer "farmhouse milk" for sale do not have to satisfy any particular hygiene requirements, but they must clearly post the notice "Raw milk - boil before consumption" at the point of sale.
Another exception is the sale of so-called "certified raw milk", a packaged milk from specially controlled cows which is sold in retail outlets. Although certified raw milk may be consumed raw thanks to the special hygiene regulations and controls, it cannot be completely ruled out that it contains pathogens which can cause infections in particularly sensitive persons. The packaging of certified raw milk must contain the notice that the milk may be stored at a maximum temperature of 8°C along with the term "raw milk" and the use-by date. The use-by date indicates the date by which particularly perishable foods should be eaten.
All foods made from raw milk must be marked accordingly. Packaged cheese products, for example, must contain the note "Produced with raw milk". If this note is not applied, the cheese was made from pasteurised milk. The majority of all German cheese varieties are made from pasteurised milk. Typical German raw milk cheeses are varieties such as Allgäuer Bergkäse und Emmentaler, but the majority of any bacteria which these hard cheese varieties may still contain do not survive the long maturation period.
Cream cheese, on the other hand, is non-matured cheese which is usually made by curdling heat-treated (pasteurised) or skimmed milk. It can be consumed directly after production and includes varieties such as quark, fresh cream cheese, cottage cheese and layered cheese.
You will find additional notes on the consumption of raw milk and on protection against foodborne infections at:
- External Link:Questions and Answers on the Consumption of Raw Milk
- Questions and answers on protection against foodborne infections in private households
This text version is a translation of the original German text which is the only legally binding version.