CDC Warning: This Milk Can Put Older Adults at Greater Risk of Serious Food Poisoning

At Cooking Office, we have conversations about food ingredients a lot. This time around, we want you to pay attention to an item that should never be a part of your meal prep. The CDC has warned that raw milk can put adults who are 65 years or older at a serious risk of food poisoning.

Raw Milk Defined

This is the milk that comes directly from the animal and hasn’t been heated to remove harmful germs. According to the FDA, it can come from goats, sheep, cows, or any other animal that produces milk. It’s also sold at some stores and farms, usually marketed as “natural” or “fresh from the farm.”

Why It’s Dangerous for Older Adults

Raw milk has germs such as E. coli, Listeria, and Salmonella. These germs in healthy adults can mean a few days of illness. But adults who are 65 years and older will most likely develop a severe illness.

Symptoms of this illness can start with stomach cramps, diarrhea, and vomiting. In rare cases, it leads to Guillain-Barre syndrome or hemolytic uremic syndrome.  These issues can lead to paralysis, stroke, kidney failure, or death.

The CDC reported 202 outbreaks tied to raw milk from 1998-2018. These outbreaks brought about 2,645 illnesses and 228 hospitalizations.

What About the Health Claims?

Some individuals believe that raw milk is healthier than pasteurized milk. But the CDC says that pasteurization doesn’t significantly change milk’s nutritional value. This process can kill the germs without stripping the nutrients.

Pasteurization is just the process of heating milk to a temperature that can kill off harmful bacteria. It’s been a thing since the 1860s, and is used to safely remove bacteria from raw milk.

The germs that exist in raw milk are dangerous for older adults, children, and anyone with a weakened immune system. You can’t know whether raw milk is safe for you to drink just by looking at it. It could taste great and still make you sick later on.

The Key to Staying Safe

Lean towards pasteurized milk and dairy products. Not sure if the milk you want to consume is pasteurized or not? Check the label. 

If the tag doesn’t expressly say “pasteurized,” never assume that it is. This goes for yogurt, cheese, and ice cream. This is because all products made from raw milk pose the same dangers.

FAQs

Is raw milk legal to sell in the United States?

It depends on the US state you live in. Some states permit retail sales, while others permit only farm sales. There are a few that place a full ban on raw milk sales. Just check your state’s laws to know what applies before buying.

Does boiling raw milk make it safe to consume?

Heating milk to 161°F for 15 seconds, or bringing it to a boil, kills the harmful bacteria. That follows the same principle as pasteurization. However, note that commercial pasteurization uses controlled temperatures and timing.