THE HEALTH BENEFITS AND RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH RAW CAMELS MILK Presented By Megan Frost University of the Sunshine Coast Graduating Student 2018 Overview – The Why? ◦ Emerging Health Trend ◦ Public Health Issue ◦ Not regulated ◦ Reported health benefits ◦ Blogs, news articles and social media ◦ Consumption Trends ◦ Increase in immigration and multi cultural communities in Australia, increasing the need for consideration of new food trends ◦ Health Fads ◦ Illegal to sell in Australia ◦ Unpasteurised Overview – The How? ◦ Reviewed International Literature written in English ◦ Comparison was across four countries – Australia, New Zealand and two international countries ◦ International legislation was very hard to find in English ◦ Legislation not specific to ‘raw’ and ‘raw camel’ milk ◦ Journal articles reviewed had minimal citations and majority international research Research Questions What are the health benefits and risks associated with raw camel milk consumption? What current International and Australian legislation and regulations are in place to protect public health from hazards in raw camels milk? What additional information do we need to know to manage risks associated with consumption of raw camel milk? Raw Camel Milk ◦ Not pasteurised ◦ Main studies were conducted in Ethiopia, Saudi Arabia and Sudan for consumption of raw camel milk and other camel products such as meat and fur ◦ Limited studies available from Australia ◦ Sources from social media, health blogs making un substantiated health claims and from producers ◦ A Camel produces up to 12000 liters per lactation period Source :desertfarms.com ◦ Saudi Arabia, Sudan and recently Australia (pasteurized products) are largest producers of raw Camel milk Camels ◦ Dromedaries Camels ◦ World Population of over 70 million ◦ Australia Population over 1 million ◦ Australian Feral Camel Population doubling every 8-9 years ◦ Controlled under the‘National Feral Camel Action Plan: A national strategy for the Source: www.gettyimages.com management of feral camels in Australia’ ◦ Resource availability Health Risks & Benefits Of Raw Camel Milk World Health Organisation Raw Camel Milk is suitable for some consumers if handled well, but the concern was for children, elderly an the immune compromised Ministry Primary Industries The health benefits are negligible and do not outweigh the risks Health Benefits Of Raw Camel Milk ◦ Internationally part of a staple diet - Religious/cultural beliefs ◦ Large productivity in poor environmental conditions ◦ High Anti- oxidants ◦ Dairy Allergies and Lactose intolerance ◦ Low in β − caseins and β − lactoglobulin. ◦ Diabetes ◦ Camels milk is 9-20g lower in lactose Health Claims ◦ Cures Autism ◦ Assists with treatment of tuberculosis, cancer, stomach ulcers ◦ through the killing off of cells that are damaged ◦ Must be raw ◦ Destruction of proteins and nutritional qualities ◦ Improves lactation in breastfeeding ◦ Treats Diabetes Health Risks Of Raw Camel Milk ◦ Exposure to Pathogens ◦ Animal Contamination ◦ Environment Contamination ◦ Human Contamination ◦ Transport and Storage ◦ Australian milking practices V’s International Practices ◦ Health Risks Of Raw Camel Milk ◦ No microbial limits on Camels milk – comparisons in literature made on other animals ◦ Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome (MERS CoV) – linked to raw camels milk and Dromedaries' ◦ Three most common pathogens causing health risks ◦ E.coli (STEC) ◦ Listeria ◦ Campylobacter Listeria monocytogenes Growth 30 – 37’ C temperature range 4 – 9.6 - pH range Aerobic and anaerobic Pathogenicity There are multiple strains of monocytogenes and all can be pathogens to human. Can be contaminated into milk through poor udder hygiene, poor milking practices including milking and storage, and mastitis through the milk. Transmitted through faecal -oral route Dose Response 1.9 x 105/g to 1.2 x 109/g Clinical Response Symptoms include vomiting, diarrhoea and dizziness- right though to birth defects, seizures and meningitis causing death (Listeria can cross the blood brain barrier) Campylobacter jejuni/coli 42-43’C – Temperature 6.7-7.5 pH range Gram Negative bacteria Pathogenicity The most common human pathogen strains are C. jejuni and C. coli. Present in the intestinal tract of most animals, and generally, it is not known to cause fatality. Transmitted through faecal -oral route Toxin producing, motile and adhesive bacteria Dose Response Minimum -100 cells but generally up to 800 to cause human infection Clinical Response Symptoms range from diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and dizziness through to possible paralysis Shiga Toxin-Producing E.coli 35-40’C Temperature range 6-7 pH range Pathogenicity Toxic strain of E. coli – STEC, named based on the bloody diarrhea it causes Generally, part of the normal stomach flora in humans Strong acid resistance and able to withstand normal stomach acid Transmitted through faecal -oral route Dose Response Very low dose response of 10-100 cells. Clinical Response There may not be any initial symptoms, but can lead to bloody diarrhoea, abdominal cramps, to extreme cases that can cause kidney failure. International Legislation International Legislation International ◦ CODEX ◦ Code of Hygiene Practice for Milk and Milk Products ◦ Not specific to Camels United Kingdom and India ◦ Countries chosen based on available legislation ◦ Limitations to language ◦ Lacked specific definitions of raw Camel milk ◦ Legislation and regulations on both milk and raw milk but does not relate to raw camel milk Australian Legislation Australia ◦ QLD Food Act 2006 ◦ Unsafe food ◦ Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code ◦ Dairy Standard 4.2.4 (Australia Only) ◦ 2.5.1 – Milk ◦ All milk must be pasteurised for human consumption ◦ Food Production (Safety) Act 2000 ◦ Food Production (Safety) Regulation 2014 ◦ (Does reference Camel) New Zealand Legislation New Zealand ◦ Raw milk for sale to consumers Regulations 2015 ◦ Animal Products Notice: Raw Milk for Sale to Consumers ◦ No legislation that references the regulation of raw ‘Camels’ milk - Camel milk currently assumed Risk Management Strategies Nationally – CODEX Australia and New Zealand ◦ Food Standards Australia and New Zealand (FSANZ) ◦ Exposure to Microbial Hazards Improve hygiene practices Storage and Transport Regulations Education ◦ Children, elderly and immunocompromised ◦ Labelling/Hazard warnings ◦ Health Claims Knowledge Gaps ◦ More research needed into health benefits and risks ◦ Research health risks associated with how camel milk is produced in Australia ◦ Standard for microbial limits specific to Camels Milk ◦ Confirm point of contamination to implement hazard reduction and control measures ◦ Pasteurisation ◦ World Health Organisation recommends, as part of their management of MERS- CoV, milk be pasteurized as there is still nutritional benefit after treatment ◦ Literature claims that this spoils the milk and its nutrient qualities and breaks down proteins ◦ Translation to English of literature and Legislation that may be useful Conclusion ◦ Important and vital part of culture in some countries such as Ethiopia, Sudan and Saudi Arabia, providing a nutrient rich food source all year around in poor environmental conditions ◦ Australia has one of the largest camel populations in the world ◦ Further research needs to be conducted on the exposure to the health risk compared to the health benefits ◦ Cost vs claims ◦ Risk management strategies based on prevention of contamination ◦ Change in consumer trends here in Australia ◦ Legislation may need to move with consumption trends to protect Public Health Thank you References FAO, 2017. Dairy production and products: Camels. [online] Fao.org. Available at: <http://www.fao.org/agriculture/dairy-gateway/milk-production/dairy- animals/camels/en/#.WayoOoVOIiS> [Accessed 13 Aug. 2017]. Farah, Z., 2017. Milk. [ebook] Camel Gate, pp.5-8. Available at: <http://www.fao.org/agriculture/dairy-gateway/milk-production/dairy-animals/camels/en/#.WayoqoVOIiT> [Accessed 4 Sep. 2017]. World Health Organization, 2011. Milk and Milk Products. Rome: FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS. Martin, L., 2014. Milking it: Camel farm taps new market with dairy offering.References ABC News. [online] Available at: <http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-02-28/camel-feature- wa/5291792> [Accessed 12 Aug. 2017]. Industries, M., 2017. Raw milk. [online] MPI. Available at: <http://mpi.govt.nz/food-safety/food-safety-for-consumers/is-it-safe-to-eat/raw-milk/> [Accessed 4 Sep. 2017]. Anon, 2017. Raw milk. [online] MPI. Available at: <http://mpi.govt.nz/food-safety/food-safety-for-consumers/is-it-safe-to-eat/raw-milk/> [Accessed 4 Sep. 2017]. Industries, M., 2017. Proposed options for the sale of raw milk to consumers. [online] MPI. Available at: <http://mpi.govt.nz/news-and-resources/consultations/proposed-options- for-the-sale-of-raw-milk-to-consumers/> [Accessed 4 Sep. 2017]. Anon, 2017. Public health warning: consumption of raw milk. [online] Foodauthority.nsw.gov.au. Available at: <http://foodauthority.nsw.gov.au/news/newsandmedia/departmental/2014-12-11-public-health-warning-raw-milk> [Accessed 2 Aug. 2017]. Australian Government - FSANZ, 2007. FOOD STANDARDS AUSTRALIA NEW ZEALAND RISK ANALYSIS IN FOOD REGULATION - Assessing food-related health risks. Australian Government. Ministries for Primary Industries, 2014. Risk Profile: Listeria monocytogenes in Raw Milk. Wellington, NZ: New Zealand Government. Ministry for Primary Industries, 2014. Risk Profile: Campylobacter jejuni/coli in