Raw milk remains available in Florida purely for animal or pet consumption, making oversight and regulation more challenging.
The Florida Department of Health issued a public warning this week after 21 people, including six children under the age of 10, fell ill and seven were hospitalized due to multiple illnesses linked to drinking raw milk.
Campylobacter and Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) infections were both linked to the consumption of raw milk from a single farm in Northeast and Central Florida.
At least two patients have experienced severe complications, prompting state officials to intensify alerts about the health risks of unpasteurized dairy products.Why It Matters
The state health alert highlights the potentially serious risks of consuming raw, or unpasteurized, milk, which can contain harmful bacteria.
Pasteurization, a heat-treating process required for most dairy sales nationally, kills these germs. However, raw milk remains available in Florida solely for animal or pet consumption, which complicates oversight and regulation.
According to the Florida Department of Health, vulnerable groups, including children, older adults, pregnant women, and people with weakened immune systems, face a heightened risk of developing a severe illness.
STEC bacteria can, in severe cases, result in complications like hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a type of kidney failure, which especially endangers children’s health.What To Know
Health officials reported that the current outbreak originated from a single farm, though the farm’s name has not yet been released. The infections have been traced directly to the consumption of raw milk products from this farm, prompting concern over its sanitation protocols.
Federal agencies, including the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), strongly advise against consuming raw milk due to the risk of serious illness.
Between 1998 and 2018, at least 202 outbreaks linked to raw milk were reported in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, resulting in 2,645 illnesses and 228 hospitalizations.
However, some believe that drinking raw milk is healthy, a stance supported by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Some people believe raw milk is «more nutritious, with higher levels of enzymes, beneficial bacteria, and vitamins that may be reduced during pasteurization», Darin Detwiler, a food safety adviser and professor at Northeastern University’s College of Professional Studies, told Newsweek.
«Others say it tastes better or supports local farming practices. There’s also a cultural or nostalgic appeal for those who grew up drinking milk straight from the source», he said.
