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Health Risks of Raw Milk: Analyzing the Potential Dangers Amid Rising Bird Flu Concerns

Drinking raw milk, despite its touted health benefits by certain wellness advocates, presents significant health risks due to potential contamination with harmful bacteria, parasites, and viruses. The medical community stresses the dangers of raw milk consumption, particularly in light of the increasing risk of H5N1 bird flu. Physicians should counsel patients on the safety of pasteurized milk and the severe implications of consuming unpasteurized dairy products.

Key Points:

• Raw milk consumption is linked to higher levels of harmful bacteria such as Listeria, Brucella, Campylobacter, Cryptosporidium, E. coli, and Salmonella, according to the CDC.
• Advocates claim raw milk is easier to digest, richer in enzymes and probiotics, and beneficial for lactose intolerant individuals, although these claims lack scientific backing.
• The Raw Milk Institute (RAWMI) promotes raw milk from hygienic farms, but does not provide original studies to support their health claims.
• The medical community advises against raw milk consumption, particularly for young children, the elderly, pregnant individuals, and immunocompromised patients.
• Historical data reveals numerous outbreaks linked to raw milk consumption, resulting in severe illnesses and fatalities, including hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) caused by enterohemorrhagic E. coli.
• Recent studies indicate that raw milk from H5N1-infected cows can harbor the virus, posing significant health risks.
• Pasteurization effectively kills pathogens in milk, without compromising its nutritional quality, drastically reducing food-borne illnesses.
• Physicians should inquire about patients’ consumption of raw milk and educate them on the risks, particularly during the rising threat of bird flu.
• Patients should be advised to purchase milk products from grocery stores with pasteurized dairy plant-supply chains to ensure safety.

“Pasteurization effectively kills pathogens that exist in raw milk without any significant impact on the nutritional quality of the milk.”
— Erin Sorrell, PhD, MSc

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