HHS HealthBeat (March 28, 2012)

Raw milk

From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I’m Ira Dreyfuss with HHS HealthBeat.

Raw milk has its following, but experts say the followers are putting themselves at risk – and their children and families, too. Raw milk is nonpasteurized, which means it has not been treated against germs that can be found in cows – even if the cow looks healthy. Some people think raw milk is better, but researcher Adam Langer of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention knows what happens to people who drink it.

“Raw milk and other nonpasteurized dairy products can carry harmful bacteria and other germs that can make you very sick or kill you.”  (8 seconds)

He says some raw milk drinkers have wound up needing weeks of kidney dialysis, and even ventilators to help them breathe.

The study is in the CDC journal Emerging Infectious Diseases.

Learn more at hhs.gov.

HHS HealthBeat is a production of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. I’m Ira Dreyfuss.

Last revised: March 28, 2012