The objective of this study was to conduct a risk assessment to determine the food poisoning risk from
the consumption of milk in China that might be contaminated by Staphylococcus aureus. Data related to
prevalence and concentration of S. aureus in fluid raw milk in China were collected from the literature
and used to calculate the initial contamination levels. Two main consumption routes were considered
and the results of the Monte Carlo simulation model indicated that the storage temperature in the
processing plant and heat processing of milk in the home were the primary factors affecting the S. aureus
concentration at the processing plant and the home before consumption, respectively. Other important
factors were distribution of log (D)-value's for S. aureus, storage temperature and time on farm, temperature
of the thermal treatment of milk, and treatment time at the dairy processing plant. To minimize
the risk of milk-borne staphylococcal intoxication in China, the key step appears to be the control of
storage conditions during the period after heat treatment and before consumption. The risk assessment
model developed in present study provides valuable information for Chinese government and dairy
processors to improve milk safety. It also could provide valuable recommendations for Chinese consumer
education on safe handling of milk products.