Raw milk company says toddler’s death from product “sensationalised”; Unemployment rate inches higher: Midday Roundup

The company behind a raw milk product that reportedly killed a three-year old who drank it has said the death has been “sensationalised”.

The Melbourne child is believed to have died after drinking a ‘cosmetic’ milk product named Mountain View Organic Bath Milk, according to Fairfax.

Mountain View Farm owner Vicki Jones told 3AW radio the media had blown the death out of proportion.

“I’m in shock, I think it’s a bit sensationalised,” she said.

Jones said she was aware customers drank the product despite warning labels. 

“The label actually says not for human consumption – it’s a cosmetic product, not for human consumption. Every time we’re approached by someone who says ‘can we drink this milk’ we tell them that it’s not for consumption,” she said.

Jones said Mountain View Farm would put more warning labels on its products and consider changing its bath milk packaging so it less resembled pasteurised milk.

Unemployment rate inches higher

Australia’s unemployment rate has inched higher, climbing less than 0.1% to 6.3% in November 2014, according to data released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

The seasonally adjusted number of people unemployed increased by 4,700 to 777,700 for November. The participation rate moved to 64.7% from 64.6%

But the figures also show the number of people employed increased by 42,700 to 11,637,400 in November 2014, when seasonally adjusted. It had been anticipated there would be a rise of only 15,000 jobs.

The Australian dollar rose briefly following the data release this morning.

Local shares down

Aussie shares are down this morning after a turbulent overnight trade overseas. 

“Dark clouds hang over Asia Pacific share markets this morning after a wild and stormy night’s trading,” said Michael McCarthy, chief market strategist at CMC Markets.

“Record inventory levels produced a further slide in oil prices, fanning the flames of a Greek-inspired European share sell off. Local jobs data is unlikely to ease the pressure, and all sectors are forecast to open down this morning.”

The S&P/ASX200 benchmark was down 30.1 points to 5228.9 points at 12:15pm AEDT. On Wednesday, the Dow Jones closed 268.05 points down, diving 1.51% to 17,533.2 points.