Dairy Crest recalls fresh milk over possible cleaning fluid contamination

Dairy Crest has recalled two batches of fresh milk from two British retailers over concerns the units may have become contaminated with cleaning fluid.

In a notice posted on the UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) website yesterday, Dairy Crest announced it was withdrawing six pint bottles of fresh milk with use by dates November 5 and November 7 from British retailers, Morrisons and Budgens.

The affected batches of Morrisons Whole British Milk and Supervalu from Budgens Whole British Milk were recalled on a "precautionary basis" after Dairy Crest discovered a "small proportion" of the two batches were tainted.

Speaking with DairyReporter.com, Olivia Seccombe, external communications and public affairs manager, Dairy Crest, said that in the last 48 hours just two complaints from consumer that bought the milk in question have been received - both reporting a "funny smell." 

Neither consumer complained, however, of illness, she said.

“We’ve had two consumer complaints, both of which relate to the November 5 batch," said Seccombe. "Neither of the complaints had anything to do with illness."

"Consumers might suffer a slight irritation of the mouth. But we're not expecting anyone to suffer any symptoms.

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Morrisons Whole British Milk.

"If anyone has symptoms we'd advise them to visit a doctor. Although there is only a tiny chance."

The recalled batches of Morrisons Whole British Milk and Supervalu from Budgens Whole British Milk were processed at Dairy Crest's plant in Foston, Derbyshire, which boasts a 250m litre per year capacity.

In a statement posted on its website, Dairy Crest said a full risk assessment has been undertaken and it is "confident" no other products manufactured at Foston are affected.

“Dairy Crest has identified the specific issue that has occurred which caused contamination of the milk with cleaning fluid,” said the statement.

“All the products which were affected have been identified and our relevant customers informed.”