A recent study conducted by the FDA has found that an alarming 14% of raw milk samples taken from states with dairy herd outbreaks contain infectious H5N1 bird flu. These samples were taken from bulk storage tanks on farms in four different states where dairy cattle were confirmed to be infected with H5N1. Further testing revealed that 57.5% of the samples contained the virus, with a quarter of them containing infectious virus.
The results of the study have raised concerns among experts around the world regarding the dangers of consuming raw milk. Raw milk has not undergone filtration or heat treatment to remove pathogens and has been responsible for outbreaks of illnesses caused by bacteria such as campylobacter. While there are no documented cases of humans getting H5N1 from drinking infected raw milk, there is evidence that mice have been infected by consuming cow’s milk.
In response to the study, researchers artificially spiked milk with infectious H5N1 virus and used a process designed to mimic pasteurization, which is standard for commercial milk, to test its effectiveness in inactivating the virus. The results showed that the process was very effective at eliminating the virus, leading researchers to conclude that the milk supply is safe.
A new survey conducted by the Annenberg Public Policy Center at the University of Pennsylvania has found that less than half of U.S. adults are aware that drinking raw milk is more unsafe than drinking pasteurized milk. The survey, which asked over 1,000 adults their beliefs about raw milk, revealed that only 47% knew that raw milk was less safe, while 30% were unsure, 15% thought it was just as safe, and 9% believed it was safer.
The survey also showed that 20% of respondents were unsure about the effectiveness of pasteurization in killing viruses and bacteria, and 4% believed it was not very effective or not effective at all. Older adults and those with a college education were more likely to understand the benefits of pasteurization and correctly believe that it does not destroy nutrients in milk.
Beliefs about raw milk were also found to differ based on political affiliation, with 57% of Democrats believing that raw milk is less safe than pasteurized milk, compared to 37% of Republicans. This difference may be related to the rural-urban divide, as rural dwellers are more likely to consume raw milk and also more likely to identify as Republicans. It is important for consumers to be aware of the risks associated with consuming raw milk and the benefits of pasteurization in reducing the risk of milk-borne illnesses.
