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The contamination incident at Raw Farm underscores the unpredictable nature of raw milk and the challenges faced by health officials in monitoring and ensuring its safety.
Mark McAfee, a California raw milk producer (who also happens to be Chairman and President of the Raw Milk Institute board) and whose products have been recalled several times recently due to bird flu contamination, said he has been approached by Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s team to guide the upcoming administration on raw milk policy.
It's a deliciously romantic notion—pun intended—to imagine happy contented cows grazing in a green meadow, the sun is shining, the birds are singing, and flowers blooming. A cheerful farmer then ushers the herd back to his farm, happily milking the cows straight into glass bottles, ready to be packaged and delivered to homes and stores in the local area.
For those still swayed by the raw milk hype, it's essential to understand the grave risks involved and the questionable legitimacy of its alleged benefits.
Sources: (The Guardian) (Forbes) (USA Today) (FDA) (CDC) (NPR) (Raw Milk Institute)
See also: Myths, truths, and fun facts about milk
Food safety experts are "absolutely horrified" by the growing raw milk trend, says Dr. Marion Nestle, the Paulette Goddard professor emerita of nutrition, food studies, and public health at New York University. "Pasteurizing milk is one of the great public health achievements of the 20th century,” Nestle told The Guardian. “Drinking cow’s milk used to kill babies."
Federal and state officials confirmed that pasteurized milk in grocery stores is safe from bird flu, but caution that raw milk is not.
Furthermore, raw milk does not cure lactose intolerance and is not more effective in preventing osteoporosis than pasteurized milk. There is no evidence that it is better for the gut, allows you to absorb more nutrients, or helps build up your immune system.
But a much more sinister reality has evolved across the US. The US Department of Agriculture issued a federal order requiring the testing of the nation's milk supply amid increasing concerns over bird flu.
In a detailed report on their website, the FDA debunks several myths surrounding raw milk consumption, including asserting that raw milk advocates have "misused" a key study to falsely claim that raw milk prevents asthma or allergies, and that there is no substantial scientific evidence to support such claims.
FDA testing has found harmless, dead traces of the bird flu virus in pasteurized milk since April. But raw milk, that has not gone through pasteurization—and in some cases never will—can harbor live bird flu.
Advocates claim that raw milk tastes better and offers more nutritional benefits than pasteurized milk. However, there is limited scientific evidence to support any significant advantages of drinking raw milk.
Raw milk comes straight from the cow (or sheep or goat) and has not been pasteurized. Pasteurization is a process of partial sterilization established over a century ago that destroys or deactivates bacteria, viruses, and other harmful pathogens.
The H5N1 avian flu virus has been raising alarms since it was detected in a Texas cow back in March 2024. Since then, the virus has spread to over 710 dairy herds across 15 states, with California reporting the highest number of infections.
While some continue to push the raw milk narrative, experts are clear: consuming raw milk, especially amid an ongoing bird flu outbreak, is a dangerous gamble with serious health risks. Pasteurization, a long-established safety measure, is critical in protecting the public from foodborne illness.
The effects of drinking raw milk contaminated with bird flu remain uncertain, but experts stress that the risks aren't worth it. Unpasteurized milk has been linked to several dangerous diseases in the past, including bovine tuberculosis and typhoid fever.
Raw milk's ambassadors still claim it has more vitamins and minerals than pasteurized milk. One manufacturer called the Raw Milk Institute claims that raw milk is similar to breastmilk in its benefits. The CDC firmly disputes claims like these.
These discussions gained more traction following Donald Trump's election victory and Kennedy's nomination to head the Department of Health and Human Services, further bringing the raw milk debate into the political spotlight.
Wellness entrepreneurs, including Gwyneth Paltrow, have endorsed drinking raw milk. This message has been widely promoted by TikTokers and “health influencers” since 2023, despite the lack of education or research to support their claims.
The discovery has raised the alarm among public health experts as it highlights the potential dangers of consuming unpasteurized dairy, especially in the context of an ongoing avian flu outbreak.
The FDA emphasizes raw milk offers no additional nutritional benefits compared to pasteurized milk. It also reports that raw milk consumption has been linked to at least 2,645 illnesses and 228 hospitalizations in the US over the past 20 years.
The recall also serves as a stark reminder of the importance of food safety protocols and the potential consequences when those protocols are bypassed.
For those who need further convincing, visit the CDC’s website and search for "raw milk" to see three patient stories. Seeing and hearing these disturbing case studies—particularly those involving children who drank contaminated milk—makes it hard to justify taking the risk of ending up on dialysis, ventilators, undergoing blood transfusions, and facing other life-threatening complications for the supposed "health benefits" of drinking raw milk.
Early in December, California health officials detected possible bird flu contamination in raw milk and cream products from the company Raw Farm based in Fresno. Several of its products are under a recall and the farm has been placed under quarantine.
British food writer and Queen Camilla's son Tom Parker Bowles wrote in the Mail on Sunday: "No pasteurisation, homogenisation or standardisation, meaning it still contains the full complement of vitamins, minerals and natural digestive enzymes…." However, what he failed to mention is what raw milk might also contain: harmful bacteria such as campylobacter, cryptosporidium, E. coli, listeria, brucella, and salmonella.
Speaking to The Guardian, Michael Payne, a researcher and outreach coordinator at the Western Institute of Food Safety and Security, said, "Without pasteurization, milk can carry listeria or salmonella or kidney-killing E. coli. Those things happen almost every year from the consumption of raw dairy products."
So far, bird flu has mostly caused mild symptoms in people, including cough, sore throat, muscle aches, and severe complications like pneumonia. But some people in other countries have been hospitalized with severe diseases.
Similarly, the pro-Trump organization Turning Point USA began selling T-shirts emblazoned with "Got raw milk?". Robert F. Kennedy Jr. also voiced his support, telling his followers he exclusively drinks raw milk and claiming that the FDA's regulations on the product are part of a "war on public health."
In recent months, raw milk has become a controversial topic among certain political figures and groups. Republican representative Marjorie Taylor Greene sparked discussion by posting on X (formerly Twitter) that raw milk is beneficial to health, even coining the phrase "Make America Healthy Again."
This issue continues to divide opinions as political figures use raw milk to push certain health and freedom-related agendas. The conversation around raw milk, now more prominent in the media than ever before, raises questions about health regulations and personal choice.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) remain firm that raw milk is dangerous. On the CDC website, they stress, “Pasteurization is crucial for milk safety, killing harmful germs that can cause illness. Consuming raw milk can lead to serious health risks, especially for certain vulnerable populations. Choosing pasteurized milk and dairy products is the best way to safely enjoy the nutritional benefits of milk.”
Federal health officials insist that pasteurized milk remains safe to drink while consuming raw milk amid the bird flu outbreak is incredibly risky and potentially life-threatening.
Click through the gallery to explore the realities of this controversial trend.
Should we be drinking raw milk? The facts you need to know
Why pasteurization protects health
HEALTH Trend
Proving yet again that the wellness industry can be as fickle as fashion when it comes to establishing new trends, those championing the practice of drinking milk straight from the cow have ended up with curd on their face. Even though parents whose children have become seriously ill after drinking raw milk campaign against it, health fanatics remain unmoved, insisting that raw milk boasts a range of benefits. But now, as the H5N1 avian flu virus continues to sweep through poultry flocks and dairy cattle across America, raw milk is once again in the spotlight.
Federal health officials insist that pasteurized milk remains safe to drink while consuming raw milk amid the bird flu outbreak is incredibly risky and potentially life-threatening.
Click through the gallery to explore the realities of this controversial trend.