england-and-wales food food-processing retail
Is it legal in England for unpasteurised dairy products to be sold in retail stores?
<p><a href="https://i.stack.imgur.com/rzfqy.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.stack.imgur.com/rzfqy.jpg" alt="Isigny Ste Mère Crème d’Isigny" /></a></p>
<p>I understand that it is not legal to sell unpasteurised dairy products in retail stores in England, at least in the case of raw milk. (It must be purchased directly from farmers.)</p>
<p>But then one sees other dairy products like raw butter or crème fraîche.</p>
<p>In particular, I understand that the  Isigny Ste Mère dairy production cooperative produces raw dairy products and see their butter and crème fraîche sold in chain grocery stores. What is the legality of that?</p>

<h2>It’s legal</h2>
<p>The <a href="https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1995/1086/made" rel="nofollow noreferrer">regulations</a> provide limits on various bacteria. If the product is made from raw milk, the manufacturer must implement a testing regime for those bacteria. If it’s made from treated milk, they avoid this cost.</p>
