The United States Centers for Disease Control says
consumption of raw (unpasteurized) milk and dairy products has become the
second leading cause of bacterial and viral infections.
It says the incidence of milk-related food poisonings has
increased in step with the growing popularity of raw milk.
A report published in a scientific journal, Emerging
Infectious Diseases, says that in the decade from 1998 to 2008, 14 per cent of
foodborne illnesses and 10 per cent of deaths in the U.S. were linked to
consumption of raw milk and raw milk products., including home-made cheeses.
Raw milk has been a hot-button issue in Ontario where
Michael Schmidt has been in the centre of controversy as he defies public
health and milk marketing board authorities who try to shut him down.
On the one hand, we're investing small fortunes in new food-sarety initiatives, including on-farm food safety programs, and on the other hand we allow raw milk zealots to defy food safety science.
