Pasteurization kills pathogens in raw milk that harbor the potential to create serious illness and death. We know this from science and human experience, including individual cases handled by our law firm.
But some people continue to believe that raw, unpasteurized milk is a healthier alternative and that pasteurization somehow damages milk’s nutritional value. How many raw milk outbreaks of E. coli O157:H7, Salmonella, Listeria or Campylobacter are required to demonstrate the danger?
In the Dairy State itself — Wisconsin — the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection has been vigilant in detecting milk problems. This week, the agency issued a press release warning consumers not to drink milk products carrying the brand name Blue Marble Family Farm because they may not be properly pasteurized.
The consumer alert was issued after laboratory tests from a routine inspection showed the presence of an active enzyme in Blue Marble milk that is normally destroyed by pasteurization. Blue Marble is a licensed on-farm bottling plant in Barneveld, Wisconsin.
The products covered in the advisory include whole milk, skim milk, chocolate milk, heavy whipping cream, half and half, buttermilk and eggnog in a variety of sizes. They have sell-by dates of Nov. 27 and later and are believed to be distributed primarily in southern Wisconsin, including the Madison area. At this time, food safety officials are unaware of any illnesses caused by the products.
Earlier this year in Wisconsin, the state reported a raw milk Campylobacter outbreak that sickened at least 35 people, including one who was hospitalized. That outbreak was associated with product from the Zinniker Family Farm in Elkhorn.
Here are facts from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration that set the record straight on the raw milk debate:
- Raw milk DOES NOT kill dangerous pathogens by itself.
- Pasteurizing milk DOES NOT cause lactose intolerance and allergic reactions.
- Both raw milk and pasteurized milk can cause reactions in people sensitive to milk proteins.
- Pasteurization DOES NOT reduce milk’s nutritional value.
- Pasteurization DOES NOT mean that it is safe to leave milk out of the refrigerator for extended time.
- Pasteurization KILLS harmful bacteria and SAVES lives.
One Comment
There was a time I believed our raw milk was safe enough to drink. We run a small dairy farm in Upstate New York. Within the past 5 plus years run off and chemicals have contaminated our drinking water. We once swore we never would never purchase water, because of hard work and the cost, it is to produce milk. I used to tell the kids don’t tell Dad I bought this bottle of water. Now it is common practice to purchase all our drinking water. We have drank our raw milk for decades. But without clean fresh water we will no longer drink our own raw milk. Run off in our water sources are a poison to raw milk. These are the times we live in, when our land is not protected, and environmental laws are not abide by. We no longer can trust our own fresh raw milk. Most every agency in our State was contacted to help us to prevent poisons from flowing on to our property. It is not until a family member gets so ill, and weak, we realize it is big business that dictates the way we must live. Buy pasteurized milk. Buy bottled water.