Unpasteurized Milk And Milk Products: Are they Safe for Health?

The gaining popularity of unpasteurized milk has raised questions over the safety of drinking such milk. While people consume unpasteurized milk for a variety of reasons from religious belief to thinking that unpasteurized milk are healthier and tastier, it can’t be denied that some people who consume it do fall sick.

There been have instances where people have fallen sick after taking unpasteurized products like 58 people in Wisconsin becoming ill after eating unpasteurized cheese curds contaminated with Campylobacter jejuni and five people from Colorado becoming sick after consuming raw milk from dairy containing the same bacteria.

Also, in 2004, one infant death was reported following consumption of imported Mexican cheese made from unpasteurized milk following which New York State Health Department warned against consumption of the product. There have also been other instances of outbreaks after drinking unpasteurized milk particularly outbreaks caused by Escherichia coli O157:H7 reported in Canada last April and in Washington State in December 2005.

The rules regarding consumption or sale of raw milk are different in different states and are often circumvented by the suppliers. So, while drinking unpasteurized milk may have its own benefits there are also risks associated with it and it is safer not to include these particularly in diet regimen of children.