Consumption of untreated fresh cow milk is dangerous

Tumu (U/W), Oct 22, GNA- The consumption of fresh and untreated cow milk could cause swells on human testicles as well as abortions among pregnant women, Mr Kojo Mensah Vormawor, National Project Co-ordinator of small scale diary farming has said.

The Animal Production Division of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture has therefore embarked on series of seminars and workshops to sensitise cattle owners, milk producers and consumers on milk production in the country.

Mr Vormawor said this at the opening of a two-day workshop organised for cattle owners, Fulani herdsmen, milk producers, Agricultural Extension officers and consumers from all over the region at Tumu on Tuesday.

The participants would be trained on how to treat and use the milk for yoghurt, cheese and other local dishes in their various communities to avoid waste of cow milk.

They would also be taught on good handling and packaging suitable for the market.

Mr Vormawor warned consumers against using untreated milk as it could also cause other diseases. "It is not true that untreated milk is the best for consumption, it could also be poisonous particularly when the cow is having a disease," he said.

Mr Issah Ahmed, chairman for the function said a lot of people do not patronise the fresh milk because of poor handling and the unhygienic way it is treated and urged the organisers to focus more on those matters.