This paper discusses the public debate in Sweden about pasteurisation from the 1880s to the 1940s. It tries to discern the intricate interaction between scientific knowledge, commercial interests and political agendas in policy-making and legislation. From the 1880s to the 1920s a semi-consensus is established within the scientific community. Firstly ...
(Show more)This paper discusses the public debate in Sweden about pasteurisation from the 1880s to the 1940s. It tries to discern the intricate interaction between scientific knowledge, commercial interests and political agendas in policy-making and legislation. From the 1880s to the 1920s a semi-consensus is established within the scientific community. Firstly that bacteria does exist. Secondly that milk may indeed transmit infections and in particular tuberculosis. Thirdly that pasteurisation is a practical and comparatively cheap way of making milk safe. The technical difficulties in the pasteurisation process are also overcome during this period. But the commercial interest in pasteurisation is weak. The political initiative is also lacking. Not until the 1930s does a strong pasteurisation lobby appear that joins commercial, political and scientific interests. The downturn of the world economy helps bringing about this change of attitude, but it is the conjuncture of commercial, political and medical aspects that tips the scales in favour of pasteurisation. In the debate about pasteurisation the imagery of the child, both as a primary consumer of milk and as symbol of the future of the nation, is frequently used by pro- and anti-pasteurisation campaigners.
Keywords: milk, pasteurisation, tuberculosis, scientific knowledge, commercial actors, legislation
(Show less)