The Florida Department of Health has documented 21 cases of illness associated with drinking raw milk. While this product may be legally sold throughout the state, it is clearly marked for animals and pets only, not meant for human consumption. Six of the children affected are younger than 10 years old. At least two of them have been left with devastating complications.
The truth is, raw milk—which, unlike other food products, isn’t subject to the same rigorous sanitary standards—can have serious health implications. Now, Florida health officials are urging residents to protect their health by avoiding all raw milk. It can contribute to nasty foodborne illnesses such as Campylobacter and E. coli infections. The recent outbreak has put this unpasteurized product under a new microscope as to whether it is safe to consume.
Specifically, Florida law allows the sale of raw milk only for consumption by animals. Its failure to regulate poses dangerous safety risks. Therefore, it does not even meet the safety standards required for pasteurized dairy products. This has put the substance under ever greater watch from health officials, concerned with its dangerous potential.
With the national opioid crisis still raging, protecting the public through education and prevention is a top priority for the Florida Department of Health.
“Due to continued recent cases of Campylobacter and Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) infections linked to a particular farm, the Florida Department of Health is providing information to assist Floridians in making informed decisions about their health,” – Florida Department of Health.
Public health experts are calling on consumers to avoid raw milk, which can cause severe and widespread gastrointestinal disease. The Florida Department of Health warned that these bacteria can lead to symptoms such as diarrhea, vomiting, and stomach cramps.
“These bacteria can cause gastrointestinal illness, including diarrhea, vomiting, and stomach cramps,” – Florida Health Department.
The enforcement actions, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) stated, were necessary in part because many consumers think raw milk is safer. No scientific evidence exists to back up these claims. The agency has sounded the alarm on the public health risks that come with this toxic exposure.
“While the perceived nutritional and health benefits of raw milk consumption have not been scientifically substantiated, the health risks are clear,” – FDA.
The FDA cautions that foodborne pathogens such as E. coli are particularly easy to transmit between young children. This puts consumers at risk not just for those who choose to drink raw milk, but for anyone who has contact with them.
“Because E. coli can spread from one child to another, the risk is not just to the one that drank the milk,” – FDA.
