Raw milk: Consumer lives are at risk

It ought to be an old saying by now: Consumers have the right to make choices, but expect some of them to be dangerous or stupid. In the case of raw milk, they're getting both.

Federal law requires all milk sold in final package form for human consumption to be pasteurized for one simple reason: Raw milk poses a health risk, especially for people who are sick or very young or very old or who are immune-compromised. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, between 1998 and 2008 consumption of raw milk in the U.S. was documented to be responsible for 1,614 cases of illness, 187 hospitalizations, and two fatalities.

Yes, in rare cases people can die from drinking raw milk.

Despite repeated warnings to consumers to not drink it – FDA even has a question and answer page on its website at http://www.fda.gov/Food/FoodSafety/Product-SpecificInformation/MilkSafety/ucm122062.htm – raw milk has somehow become the latest sexy government coverup in the minds of nutrition conspiracy theorists who demand to have access to it.

Inexplicably, lawmakers in some states seem inclined to say OK. On March 26, a bill to allow the sale of raw milk was sent to the Wisconsin State Assembly for consideration. That same day, FDA and several state agencies issued yet another warning against drinking raw milk which was prompted by word from Michigan health officials that at least 12 cases of raw-milk-related illness had been confirmed as of March 24.

How many more people have to die – and how many dairy producers will be sued for providing it to them – before intelligence finally takes over?

The raw milk battle heats up

The Food and Drug Administration released a special warning late last week reminding consumers to forgo any consumption of raw milk. They report that at least 12 cases of illnesses have been confirmed in Michigan due to an outbreak of campylobacteriosis (symptoms include diarrhea, abdominal pain, and fever.) All cases of the foodborne illness have been linked to consumption of raw milk from a dairy farm in Indiana. From 1998 to 2008, 85 outbreaks of human infections resulting from consumption of raw milk were reported to the Centers for Disease Control. These outbreaks included a total of 1,614 reported illnesses, 187 hospitalizations, and 2 deaths. The FDA says that, because not all cases of foodborne illness are recognized and reported, the actual number of illnesses associated with raw milk is likely much higher.

The new warning from the FDA has garnered national attention recently, too. The Wall Street Journal published a piece just yesterday about the growing trend to throw FDA recommendations to the wayside and consume unpasteurized milk. "Raw milk is inherently dangerous and should not be consumed by anyone, at any time, for any reason," said John Sheehan, director of the FDA's division of plant and dairy food safety.

We realize that the income from raw milk sales may be appealing to some farms — especially when coping with the state of our dairy industry. However, the risks associated with it is simply poor business sense for all of us. It may take just one sickness from raw milk for an entire family to stop drinking milk all together. That's a family of consumers we can't afford to lose. We've worked hard to have reliably safe products on store shelves; let's not lose that badge of honor. And while proponents of raw milk consumption may tout "beneficial bacteria," there already is another dairy product that safely delivers that: yogurt.