Dutch firm TOP launches consortium to market safe raw milk

TOP, a Netherlands-based food technology company, is working on a consortium to market raw milk that is safe for consumption.

The company stated that tests performed on raw milk treated with preservation technologies such as Pascalisation and PurePulse were very encouraging.

Raw milk is currently not intended for sale in retail channels due to possible contamination with pathogenic bacteria.

Mild preservation techniques are designed to make raw milk safer for consumption, while retaining nutrients and flavour.

Demand for raw milk has been increasing significantly due to health benefits and the intense and full flavour, the company said.

Research by TOP has demonstrated the health benefits of raw milk compared with heat-pasteurized milk.

Supported by the Dutch NieuwVers project, the initiative by the Dutch firm hopes to enable the sale of raw milk through retail, as it believes that marketing it in regular retail channels offers substantial potential for both farmers and retailers.

As part of its efforts to further develop the consortium, the company is searching for dairy farmers, technology providers, marketing professionals and retailers.

TOP CEO Wouter de Heij said, "Parties that are interested and willing to contribute to market safe, raw milk are welcome to contact us."

The Dutch NieuwVers project was devised in an effort to launch innovative and sustainable products on to shelves.

In preparation for the planned launch, consumer acceptance of raw milk and the underlying technologies are also being investigated.

The research has been recently initiated and is carried out by food marketing specialist The Food Agency.