Grade "A" Pasteurized Milk Ordinance
The milk sanitation program of the United States Public Health Service (USPHS) is one of its oldest and most respected activities. The interest of the USPHS in milk sanitation stems from two important public health considerations. First, of all foods, none surpasses milk as a single source of those dietary elements needed for the maintenance of proper health, especially in children and older citizens. For this reason, the USPHS has for many years promoted increased milk consumption. Second, milk has a potential to serve as a vehicle of disease transmission and has, in the past, been associated with disease outbreaks of major proportions.
The incidence of milkborne illness in the United States has been sharply reduced. In 1938, milkborne outbreaks constituted twenty-five percent (25 percent) of all disease outbreaks due to infected foods and contaminated water. Our most recent information reveals that milk and fluid milk products continue to be associated with less than one percent (<1 percent) of such reported outbreaks. Many groups have contributed to this commendable achievement, including Public Health and Agricultural Agencies, dairy and related industries, several interested professional groups, educational institutions and the consuming public. The United States Public Health Service/Food and Drug Administration (USPHS/FDA) is proud to have contributed to the protection and improvement of the milk supply of the nation through technical assistance, training, research, standards development, evaluation and certification activities.
Despite the progress that has been made, occasional milkborne outbreaks still occur, emphasizing the need for continued vigilance at every stage of production, processing, pasteurization and distribution of milk and milk products. Problems associated with assuring the safety of milk and milk products have become extremely complex because of new products, new processes, new materials and new marketing patterns, which must be evaluated in terms of their public health significance. The Grade A Pasteurized Milk Ordinance(Grade "A" PMO), 2003 Revision translates this new knowledge and technology into effective and practicable public health practices and incorporates the provisions of the Grade "A" Condensed and Dry Milk Ordinance--Supplement I to the Grade "A" Pasteurized Milk Ordinance--1995 Recommendations of the United States Public Health Service/Food and Drug Administration.
The responsibility for insuring the ready availability and safety of milk and milk products is not confined to an individual community or a State, or to the Federal Government, it is the concern of the entire nation. With the continued cooperation of all engaged in assuring the safety of milk and milk products, including Government and industry, this responsibility can be accepted with confidence.
2003 Grade "A" Pasteurized Milk Ordinance Link to FDA website
Grade A Pasteurized Milk Ordinance PDF document