FDA warns on raw milk
29-Mar-2010
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a warning on the potential danger of consuming raw milk, following a campylobacteriosis outbreak that has been linked to at least 12 illnesses in Michigan.
The raw (unpasteurized) milk linked to the outbreak is from Forest Grove Dairy in Middlebury, Ind.
The FDA said in a statement: “Proponents of drinking raw milk often claim that raw milk is more nutritious than pasteurized milk and that raw milk is inherently antimicrobial, thus making pasteurization unnecessary. There is no meaningful nutritional difference between pasteurized and raw milk, and raw milk does not contain compounds that will kill harmful bacteria.”
The FDA added that it has been warning on the dangers of raw milk consumption for decades.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), from 1998 to 2008, 85 outbreaks of human infections resulting from consumption of raw milk were reported, including 1,614 illnesses, 187 hospitalizations and 2 deaths. However, as some illnesses are not reported, the actual number of illnesses associated with raw milk is likely to be greater, the FDA said.
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The FDA said in a statement: “Proponents of drinking raw milk often claim that raw milk is more nutritious than pasteurized milk and that raw milk is inherently antimicrobial, thus making pasteurization unnecessary. There is no meaningful nutritional difference between pasteurized and raw milk, and raw milk does not contain compounds that will kill harmful bacteria.”
The FDA added that it has been warning on the dangers of raw milk consumption for decades.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), from 1998 to 2008, 85 outbreaks of human infections resulting from consumption of raw milk were reported, including 1,614 illnesses, 187 hospitalizations and 2 deaths. However, as some illnesses are not reported, the actual number of illnesses associated with raw milk is likely to be greater, the FDA said.
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