Benefits and potential risks of the lactoperoxidase system of raw milk preservation

Lactoperoxidase is an enzyme that is naturally present in milk. The activation of the lactoperoxidase in the presence of hydrogen peroxide and thiocyanate, both of which are naturally present in milk, has a bacteriostatic effect on raw milk and effectively extends the shelf life of raw milk for 7-8 hours under ambient temperatures of around 30°C or longer at lower temperatures. Such an extension of the shelf-life particularly under warm ambient conditions can allow adequate time for the milk to be transported from the collection point to a processing centre without refrigeration. FAO and WHO convened a technical meeting to review the most recent scientific information on the risks and benefits of the lactoperoxidase system, and its application to international trade. This report provides the output of the meeting including a summary report of the most recent information on the topic, and the discussions and recommendations of the technical meeting.