By Christine Sexton, Florida Phoenix
Florida Department of Health officials said Monday there have been 21 cases of Campylobacter and E. coli infections tied to raw milk consumption in the central and northeast portions of the state, and seven people have been hospitalized.
The agency said the tainted milk was “linked to a particular farm” but did not disclose the name or location.
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“Sanitation practices in this farm are of particular concern due to the number of cases,” the DOH said in the Monday bulletin.
Of the 21 cases, severe complications have been reported in at least two. Six of the cases were reported in children under the age of 10.
Raw milk comes directly from the cow, sheep, goat, or other animals and doesn’t go through a heating process, known as pasteurization, to kill bacteria. As such, raw milk can contain campylobacter, Escherichia coli (E. coli), listeria, and salmonella, which can cause gastrointestinal illness, including diarrhea, vomiting, and stomach cramps.
The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention notes that children under 5, adults over 65, pregnant women, and people with weakened immune systems are at a higher risk of serious illness from these germs.
In Florida, raw milk can only be sold for non-human consumption as pet or animal food, which is regulated by the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Florida law requires containers of raw milk to carry a label clearly stating that the raw milk is for animal consumption only.
The DOH, headed by Dr. Joseph Ladapo, did not recommend against drinking raw milk.
“Floridians are encouraged to use this information to make informed decisions about their health and sources of raw milk should they choose to consume it,” the bulletin notes.
Gov. Ron DeSantis hired Ladapo, who had been on the medical school faculty of the University of California at Los Angeles, to run the DOH in 2021. The agency secretary doubles as the state surgeon general, and Ladapo also fills a position at the University of Florida.
During his time in the DeSantis administration, Ladapo has expressed deep skepticism of Covid-19 vaccines and the efficacy of face masks to limit exposure to viruses. He made national headlines in 2021 when he refused to don a mask during a meeting with state Sen. Tina Polsky, who was being treated for cancer and requested that he wear one. At the time, Ladapo was up for Senate confirmation.
Ladapo last year advised parents that it was up to them to decide whether to keep their children at home amid a measles outbreak in Broward County — counter to usual practice and guidance from the CDC urging parents to keep unvaccinated children at home. And it was Ladapo’s agency that before the 2024 general election sent warning letters to television stations airing ads urging passage of Amendment 4, the initiative that would have guaranteed access to abortion.
As Floridians sicken from raw milk-related infections, researcher stresses importance of pasteurization
From UF/IFAS
Recent hospitalizations linked to the consumption of raw milk in Northeast and Central Florida have prompted the Florida Department of Health (FDOH) to issue an alert about the potential risks associated with the unpasteurized product.
Raw milk can contain disease-causing bacteria, including Campylobacter, E. coli, Listeria and Salmonella, and consuming it can lead to gastrointestinal illness such as diarrhea, vomiting and stomach cramps, according to the FDOH.
In Florida, it is legal to sell raw milk for non-human consumption if it is properly labelled to indicate it was not subject to the same sanitary regulations as pasteurized milk. Still, some people believe it contains health-promoting benefits and eschew warnings.
Keith Schneider, a professor of food safety at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, describes the process of pasteurization and emphasizes why consumers should carefully consider the type of milk they buy.
Q: What is pasteurization?
A: Typically, pasteurization is the application of heat over a given time. All steps are a combination of both. So, you can increase the temperature and process for shorter times or use lower temperatures and longer processing times. These values are calculated on the temperature required to kill a specific pathogenic microorganism. Different microorganisms require different heating regimes. For most commercial processes, the most conservative time and temperature are used to ensure the inactivation of all the most probable pathogenic microbes.
Q: What food and drink items are most commonly pasteurized in the United States?
A: Any bottled, boxed or canned liquid is typically pasteurized. But I would imagine milk and juice are No. 1 and No. 2.
Q: Is there any risk associated with the human consumption of unpasteurized food and drinks? If so, what are they?
A: Yes. Without pasteurization, certain products can contain harmful microorganisms that can result in illness and even death.
Q: What are the benefits of pasteurization?
A: The benefits of pasteurization are simple. In addition to reducing or eliminating harmful microorganisms, it reduces spoilage and increases shelf life.
Q: Is there any nutritional loss when food and drinks are pasteurized?
A: Yes and no. Advocates of raw milk consumption claim it can help treat allergies and that pasteurization removes beneficial vitamins. With the exception of decreasing riboflavin (vitamin B2), pasteurization does not significantly decrease the nutritional value of milk. However, even when pasteurized, milk still remains an excellent source of riboflavin. Pasteurized milk is perfectly fine and does not have a significant impact on health compared to the potential risks raw milk carries. The one thing that’s being looked at with more scrutiny is raw milk and protection against milk allergies. The evidence is not conclusive at this point.
Q: Is there anything else related to pasteurization you would like to add?
A: What most people forget is that these heat treatment processes were designed to prevent human casualties and to extend the shelf life of food. Most people don’t remember or know of the historical outbreaks. Unfortunately, when conducting research, people will search the internet and focus on those sites that reinforce the answers they’re looking for.
ABOUT UF/IFAS
The mission of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) is to develop knowledge relevant to agricultural, human, and natural resources and to make that knowledge available to sustain and enhance the quality of human life. With more than a dozen research facilities, 67 county Extension offices, and award-winning students and faculty in the UF College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, UF/IFAS brings science-based solutions to the state’s agricultural and natural resources industries and all Florida residents.
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