Milk pasteurisation and safety: a brief history and update.

A brief history of the development of milk pasteurisation is presented and updated. Concerns about the margin of safety provided by current pasteurisation standards in terms of milk-borne pathogens such as mycobacteria (in particular Mycobacterium paratuberculosis) and other emerging pathogens such as Listeria monocytogenes and Escherichia coli O157:H7 are discussed. With the exception of the endospores of Bacillus cereus, current standards appear to be adequate for public health assurance of milk safety provided good manufacturing practices are followed.