TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Over 20 individuals fell sick from consuming uncooked milk bought in Florida, based on a bulletin from the Florida Division of Well being.
The FDH bulletin, which supplied an replace on uncooked milk availability in northeast and Central Florida, mentioned there have been 21 circumstances of individuals falling sick from Campylobacter and Shiga toxin-producing E. coli.
The sicknesses have linked to the consumption of uncooked milk from “a specific” farm, however the bulletin didn’t identify the farm. Six of those circumstances embody youngsters underneath the age of 10.
Well being officers mentioned out of the 21 circumstances, seven have resulted in hospitalizations, and not less than two have suffered “extreme issues.”
“STEC micro organism in its most extreme type may end up in hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) which is characterised by hemolysis and kidney failure, which is of specific concern for kids,” the bulletin acknowledged. “Teams at increased threat for extreme sickness embody infants and younger youngsters, pregnant girls, aged people, and people with weakened immune methods.”
What’s uncooked milk? Why is it harmful?
Uncooked milk is milk from sheep, cows, goat, or any animal that has not been pasteurized. Pasteurization is the method of mildly heating milk or different packaged meals merchandise to assist get rid of dangerous micro organism.
As a result of uncooked milk doesn’t undergo this course of, it may comprise harmful micro organism that may trigger ailments like listeriosis, typhoid fever, tuberculosis, diphtheria, Q fever, and brucellosis —according to the USDA.
Whereas some uncooked milk advocates declare it’s more healthy and safer, this isn’t supported by science, as pasteurization doesn’t cut back milk’s dietary worth.
Frequent myths embody that uncooked milk eliminates pathogens by itself, which is fake, and that pasteurized milk causes lactose intolerance.
Within the context of that second fable, the power to digest lactose is definitely a mutation that’s only present in 35% of the human population, principally these of European descent. In actuality, most people lose the power to digest milk as they develop, which was the default human situation till the mutation appeared between 2,000 and 20,000 years in the past.
These with milk allergy symptoms will endure signs whether or not they drink uncooked or pasteurized milk as a result of proteins contained in the product.
In response to the FDH, uncooked milk can solely be bought within the state of Florida for pet or animal consumption, and uncooked milk merchandise have to be labeled “for animal consumption solely.”
Well being specialists have acknowledged that uncooked milk marketed for pets and animals “IS NOT secure for individuals to drink.”
