raw milk

The latest outbreak of illnesses caused by Salmonella in raw milk means it’s time to talk about that again.

To start:

Food safety lawyer, Bill Marler, takes a dim view of how the California Department of Health is handling this outbreak:

California Department of Health still silent on 165 ill from consuming Raw Milk: Over the last 30 plus years of practice I have been a vocal advocate for robust public health involvement in disease – especially food borne illness prevention. It is beyond me to comprehend why public health would remain mute in the face of at least 165 sick, 20 hospitalized and 40% of the ill five… Continue Reading

He takes even a dimmer view of how the producer of the raw milk has responded.  The Raw Farm producer is Mark McAfee.

Mark, you are as full of shit as your milk is:  Mark, first, my beef is with the California Sate Health Department that spiked that your products sickened at least 165 people in four states with a combination of Salmonella, Campylobacter and E. coli (you are not illegally selling raw milk across state lines again?).

Comment

What to say about raw milk?  No question, it’s risky.  How risky?  As with so much else in nutrition, it depends on point of view.

Federal agencies and public health groups warn against it.

• The FDA rebuts all claims made for raw milk:  “None of the claims made by the raw milk advocates that we have examined for you can withstand scientific scrutiny. Unfortunately, the false “health benefits” claims of raw milk advocates may cause parents to give raw milk to their children and prompt immuno-compromised people, such as pregnant women, the elderly, and hospitalized patients, who want better nutrition, to also start consuming raw milk. It is these very same sub-groups of the population, however, that are most at risk for becoming ill or even dying from foodborne illness as a result of consuming adulterated raw milk.”
• Harvard Health: Why drinking raw milk can be dangerous: take heed of the research, be aware of the risks associated with drinking raw milk, and in general, avoid drinking it.
• Physician’s Weekly: Less than Half of Adults Know Dangers of Raw Milk:  “It is important that anyone planning to consume raw milk be aware that doing so can make you sick and that pasteurization reduces the risk of milk-borne illnesses,” said Patrick Jamieson, director of the Annenberg Health and Risk Communication Institute at the University of Pennsylvania.

Lawsuits seem to be the only disincentive; sellers of contaminated raw milk do not go to jail, apparently, even when deaths are involved.

Owner of raw milk creamery behind fatal outbreak sentenced to probation.  A man who owned a raw milk creamery behind the deaths of two people has been sentenced to probation. U.S. Magistrate Judge Therese Wiley Dancks in New York sentenced Johannes Vulto on July 9 to three years probation, a $100,000 fine and 240 hours of community service. Vulto and his… Continue Reading

 

Risk warnings are not pausing raw milk consumption:  At a time when friends don’t let friends drink raw milk and some world-renowned scientists with deep expertise in the H5N1 virus think the situation is serious enough that it should be illegal to sell milk products that are not pasteurized, not much is happening. The raw milk business is… Continue Reading

If you must drink raw milk, know your farmer, make sure the milk is fresh and comes from one cow, and use it right away.  The risk goes up the more it is pooled and sits around.

Raw milk is always risky.  I prefer Pasteurized.