What disease is milk sold through commercial outlets certified to be free of?

Milk sold through commercial outlets is required to be certified free of tuberculosis (TB) due to the public health risks associated with this disease. TB is a bacterial infection that can affect both animals and humans, and in the case of dairy cattle, it can lead to the contamination of milk. The presence of TB in the livestock population can pose a significant risk as the bacteria can be shed through milk, which, if consumed, could infect humans. Therefore, rigorous testing and certification processes are in place to ensure that milk produced for sale does not come from herds affected by tuberculosis.

While other diseases like brucellosis, foot and mouth disease, and Johne's disease also pose threats to animal health and milk quality, the certification specifically for TB highlights the proactive measures taken to protect public health. It's important for consumers to have confident assurance that the milk they purchase is free from such communicable diseases, as this directly impacts food safety and overall public health standards.