Raw
milk is milk that has not been pasteurised to kill bacteria that could be
harmful to humans.
No matter how carefully it has been produced, raw
milk may be unsafe.
In Australia, the sale of raw cow’s milk for human
consumption is illegal. In Victoria it is also illegal to package, deliver or
provide raw milk for consumption.
It is important that consumers understand the risks
associated with drinking raw milk and balance this risk against the claimed ‘benefits’.
Everyone is vulnerable to illness caused by the organisms present in raw milk,
but the risks are even greater for young children and for the elderly, those
with underlying health problems, compromised immunity or pregnant.
If you drink raw milk it increases your risk of
acquiring various gastrointestinal illnesses, including those caused by
microorganisms (bacteria, bugs, or germs ) such as:
- Salmonella spp.
- pathogenic
E. coli
- Staphylococcus aureus
- Campylobacter jejuni and
- Listeria monocytogenes.
Consumers exposed to these organisms may experience
symptoms which can range from mild discomfort (diarrhoea and vomiting) to
life-threatening illnesses such as listeriosis or haemolytic uraemic syndrome
(HUS) which can result in renal failure in otherwise healthy people.
In recent
years, there have been deaths in children from HUS a direct result of consuming
raw milk.