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Raw Milk Sales Ban Pushed by AAP
American Academy of Pediatrics urges raw milk sales ban to protect children and pregnant women from serious health risks.
In brief
American Academy of Pediatrics urges raw milk sales ban to protect children and pregnant women from serious health risks. American Academy of Pediatrics calls for raw milk sales ban after data shows risks to young children and pregnant women. Originally reported by PhillyVoice.
AAP Calls for Raw Milk Sales Ban
The American Academy of Pediatrics says drinking unpasteurized milk can lead to serious health risks for young children and pregnant women.
Health Risks of Raw Milk
Consuming raw milk can cause serious foodborne illnesses including diarrhea, stomach cramps, vomiting, and rare cases of paralysis, kidney failure, stroke, or death.
Pasteurization Process
Pasteurization heats raw milk to kill germs like E. coli, Listeria, and Salmonella without altering its nutritional value.
Vulnerable Groups
Children under 5, adults over 65, and pregnant women are especially at risk from raw milk consumption.
Raw Milk Sales Trends
Raw milk sales in the U.S. rose 17.6% in 2024, becoming a rallying point among wellness influencers and right-wing media outlets.
Health Outcomes
Research shows raw milk consumption linked to 75 foodborne illness outbreaks in the U.S. between 2013 and 2018, with 98 hospitalizations and two deaths.
FDA Outbreak Data
The FDA reports 143 foodborne illness outbreaks linked to raw milk since 1987, causing miscarriages, still births, kidney failure, and deaths.
State Laws Vary
Raw milk sales are legal in 30 states but prohibited between states by FDA rules, with Pennsylvania allowing licensed sales and New Jersey banning them.
Expert Concerns
Biology professor Petra Levin warns that raw milk carries a high likelihood of pathogens causing illness despite not guaranteeing sickness.
Recent Incident
A 17-month-old girl nearly died from E. coli linked to unpasteurized milk consumption.
AAP Recommendations
The AAP urges pediatricians to lobby state representatives to ban raw milk sales and protest efforts to legalize its sale in states where it is illegal.
The one thing
American Academy of Pediatrics calls for raw milk sales ban after data shows risks to young children and pregnant women.
