"Raw milk appeals to consumers who seek natural and unprocessed foods," writes Elizabeth Weise in USA Today, but what they and their children may also find are illness and, conceivably, death. It's ironic that a food process instituted back in the 1920s and 30s to prevent real, milk-borne disease, is now being demonized as a cause of nutrient depletion (which it is not). Indeed, some raw milk advocates blame pasteurized milk for everything from infant colic to osteoporosis, heart disease, and cancer (have they been talking to the anti-aspartame lobby?). None of this is true. In fact, the only problem with the USA Today article is that it presents the topic of raw milk as a debate -- there is none among serious scientists.
While raw milk may taste somewhat sweeter than the pasteurized variety, this hardly makes up for the fact that it is considerably more likely to carry disease-causing microorganisms. Indeed, as we have noted in the past, there have been well-documented outbreaks of E. coli O157:H7 infection in children, an infection that can result in permanent kidney damage, if not death.
It's one thing to advocate for organic produce -- as long as it's washed well, it's unlikely to harm anyone's health. But rejecting pasteurization -- a process that has been proven to vastly decrease the probability of disease -- because of adherence to a quasi-religious belief in the power of "natural" products is beyond logic.
This is but another sad example of parents who wish only the best for their children's health actually putting that health in jeopardy -- much as do those who reject childhood vaccinations. We can only hope that the public health community exerts itself to counter the spread of the raw milk myth. As John Sheehan, the director of the Division of Dairy and Egg Safety of the Food and Drug Administration notes in the USA Today article, drinking raw milk is "like playing Russian roulette with your health." What's worse is playing the game with the health of one's children.
For more information about milk, see these ACSH publications:
What's the Story? The Role of Milk in Your Diet
"Scientific Panel Rejects NY Green Party Claims Regarding rBGH Milk Safety"
Ruth Kava, Ph.D., R.D., is Director of Nutrition at the American Council on Science and Health (ACSH.org, HealthFactsAndFears.com).
