Unpasteurized, raw milk can harbor several bacteria that can
cause severe illness, particularly in young children, the elderly and
immune-compromised individuals, said an LSU AgCenter food safety specialist.
Consuming unpasteurized milk creates a greater likelihood of
illness, said Wenqing Xu.
Unpasteurized milk has a greater chance to harbor food-borne
pathogens, Xu said. These can include campylobacter, listeria, salmonella and
E. coil I57:H7 – all of which can cause illness.
“Contamination of raw milk can occur from a variety of
microorganisms from a variety of sources,” she said. The risk can occur at any
stage of handling.
Illness from any of these pathogens takes a certain
dose-response level – the amount of the pathogen required to cause symptoms,
said LSU AgCenter dairy science professor Bruce Jenny.
“Unpasteurized milk has a high risk,” Xu said. “Symptoms may
vary and may include diarrhea, vomiting and fever. In addition, listeria can
cause miscarriage in pregnant women.”
Symptoms can range from minor to severe, depending on the
individual and the level of the pathogen present, Jenny said.
Besides milk itself, products made from contaminated milk,
such as cheeses and butter, are still unhealthy. “Contamination won’t
disappear,” Xu said.
“Our concern is people think raw milk is better, healthier,”
she said. But the data show no significant difference in health benefits.
“Unpasteurized milk is not a safe product,” Jenny said. “It
has inherent hazards.”
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