TAMPA, Fla. – Florida well being officers mentioned an outbreak of food-borne sickness has been linked to uncooked, unpasteurized milk offered by a farm within the state.
What we all know:
The Division of Well being confirmed 21 individuals bought sick this month, together with a number of youngsters and at the very least seven people who required hospitalization. Physicians at the moment are urging the general public to keep away from uncooked milk, citing dangers of contamination from micro organism like E. coli, Listeria, Campylobacter and Salmonella.
Pasteurization, which is the method of briefly heating milk to kill pathogens, has been the general public well being commonplace within the U.S. for greater than 100 years.
What they’re saying:
“[Raw milk] might be harmful. It could actually have many several types of micro organism that trigger abdomen and G.I. upset, bleeding within the intestine, dehydration… This will result in hospitalization. There’s actually no must drink uncooked milk, as a result of the pasteurization course of doesn’t take out vitamins,” mentioned Dr. Paige Lindberg, with Orlando Well being Bayfront.Â
“Uncooked milk gross sales in Florida are unlawful for human consumption. You’ll be able to promote it as a pet meals, so it’s accessible. However it’s labeled particularly for pet use solely. It isn’t for human consumptions – and I don’t see that altering anytime quickly,” mentioned Dr. Michelle Danyluk, meals microbiologist at UF/IFAS.Â
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The opposite aspect:
Some supporters of uncooked milk, together with U.S. Well being Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., argue the product has further well being advantages.
In a current social media video, Kennedy toasted with uncooked milk photographs and mentioned in a press convention, “There is a large quantity of rising science that talks in regards to the want for extra protein in our weight-reduction plan and extra fat in our weight-reduction plan. And there is not any trade that does that higher than [the dairy] trade.”
Some advocates additionally imagine uncooked milk could assist with allergic reactions – although physicians say there isn’t any scientific proof supporting that declare.
The Supply: This story is predicated on public alerts from Florida Division of Well being officers, and interviews with physicians and meals microbiologists. It additionally contains public remarks by Well being Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
