Central Dairies 2% milk recalled following customers finding black residue inside cartons

Central Dairies and Agropur have recalled certain cartons of two per cent milk following customer complaints of a black residue in its cartons. (Mark Quinn/CBC)

Some Central Dairies milk products have been recalled by parent company Agropur following quality issues caused by a "food spoilage organism".

The voluntary recall affects Central Dairies and S'milk two per cent milk carrying expiring dates of Sept. 20, 24, 25, 27 and 30.

A spokesperson for Agropur told CBC News in an email that any milk product with an expiry date after Oct. 1 is safe.

Jerome Whalen, plant director at the Agropur plant in Mount Pearl, told CBC/Radio-Canada the recall was caused by a quality issue that emerged within the plant that seemed to prematurely spoil milk within the effected dates.

"Basically it's caused by a food spoilage organism that basically discolours the milk, separates the milk and maybe prematurely sours the milk," Whalen said Friday.

"It's not a food safety issue, it's a quality issue."

Whalen said a quality issue differs from a food safety issue in that it doesn't present a health risk. The recall is a preventative measure following complaints from customers, who reported findings of a black residue inside milk cartons.

Mylène Dupéré, Agropur's vice president of communications, said customers can return milk products with the effected dates to where they were purchased for a credit.

Whalen said the plant has worked with industry experts to determine what caused the milk to spoil, and that the plant has implemented increased sanitization and hold measures to monitor milk further before it hits store shelves.

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