Control of MAP in milk
Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) is a bacterium that is the cause of a chronic gastrointestinal infection called Johne’s disease in cattle, and other ruminants.
There have been claims that it also causes Crohn’s disease, a chronic inflammatory bowel disease of humans that can be severe, prolonged and debilitating. However, experts differ in their opinion on such a link and worldwide there is no consensus.
The results of an FSA-commissioned survey which found MAP in approximately 2% of pasteurised milk on retail sale were presented to the Advisory Committee on the Microbiological Safety of Food in September 2000. As a result of the ACMSF's discussions and those of an expert group of stakeholders convened by the Agency, a strategy to control MAP in milk at all stages of the food chain has been produced and can be accessed via the link below.
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Executive summary from DEFRA funded report on Johne's disease
The purpose of this report was to assess the surveillance and control of Johne's disease in farm animals with a view to recommending appropriate systems of surveillance and control for Great Britain.
MAP results
At an open meeting on 23 January, 2002, to discuss the FSA draft strategy on control of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis in milk, the FSA was asked to publish the times and temperatures at which pasteurisation was carried out and the Fluorophos results for all samples tested for MAP in the National Study on the Microbiological Quality and Heat Processing of Cows' Milk.
Report of the Food Standards Agency conference on control of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) in milk
Britannia International Hotel, Docklands 23rd and 24th May 2001
Review of the evidence linking MAP with Crohn's disease
The Food Standards Agency commissioned this review paper by Dr Eileen Rubery, which explores the evidence for a link between exposure to MAP and Crohn's disease in humans.
