Though the Meals and Drug Administration (FDA) situated H5N1 fowl flu virus in samples of uncooked, or unpasteurized, milk in checks in 4 states in April 2024, and fowl flu has been detected in commercially bought uncooked milk, many People have no idea that consuming uncooked milk and its merchandise poses higher well being dangers than consuming pasteurized milk and its merchandise, particularly for youngsters. Consuming uncooked milk can expose one to Salmonella, E. coli, Campylobacter, Cryptosporidium, Listeria, and Brucella – and, probably, H5N1 fowl flu.
A majority of U.S. adults (56%) is aware of that consuming uncooked milk from cows, sheep, or goats is much less protected than consuming pasteurized milk. However over 4 in 10 People both usually are not positive (25%), assume uncooked milk is «simply as protected to drink» as pasteurized milk (12%) or assume it’s «safer to drink» (6%), in accordance with a latest survey by the Annenberg Public Coverage Heart (APPC) of the College of Pennsylvania. The findings are statistically unchanged from APPC’s July 2024 survey. Virtually a 3rd of individuals (32%) know that consuming uncooked milk will increase an individual’s threat of foodborne sickness, although 14% assume it has no impact and 51% usually are not positive.
The survey, performed Jan. 30-Feb. 10, 2025, amongst greater than 1,700 empaneled U.S. adults, additionally finds that two-thirds (66%) have no idea that youngsters are extra susceptible than adults to getting sick from the viruses and micro organism that may happen in uncooked milk.
Consuming uncooked milk and uncooked milk merchandise could make you sick and pasteurization reduces the danger of milk-borne sickness. On the lookout for the pasteurization label earlier than shopping for or consuming milk or milk merchandise comparable to cheese is nice apply.»
Patrick E. Jamieson, Director, APPC’s Annenberg Well being and Threat Communication Institute
Fowl flu
As of March 10, 2025, 70 confirmed U.S. instances of H5 fowl flu have been detected in folks in 13 states, almost all from publicity to contaminated poultry or dairy herds, in accordance with the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention (CDC). One dying from fowl flu has been reported, involving a affected person in Louisiana. Thus far there have been no reported instances of human-to-human transmission.
From January 2022 via March 11, 2025, fowl flu has been detected in almost a thousand dairy herds in 17 states, and it has affected over 166 million poultry and wild aquatic birds, overlaying all states. Globally, in accordance with the World Well being Group, from Jan. 1, 2003-Dec. 12, 2024, «954 instances of human an infection with avian influenza A(H5N1) virus had been reported from 24 nations. Of those 954 instances, 464 had been deadly.»
Researchers have discovered that mice will be contaminated with fowl flu by consuming uncooked milk. Though the FDA doesn’t at present know whether or not H5N1 will be transmitted to people via the consumption of uncooked milk, a research with mice means that the virus in «untreated milk can infect vulnerable animals that eat it.» The Nationwide Institutes of Well being says this implies «that consuming uncooked milk might pose a threat of transmission to folks.»
Uncooked milk and fowl flu
Fowl flu in uncooked milk: The overwhelming majority of U.S. adults have no idea that fowl flu has been detected up to now solely in uncooked milk, not pasteurized milk. Simply 17% know that fowl flu has been discovered solely in uncooked milk. Two p.c incorrectly say fowl flu has been discovered solely in pasteurized milk, 7% say it has been present in each, 7% say it has been present in neither, and over two-thirds of these surveyed (68%) usually are not positive.
Uncooked milk and your possibilities of getting fowl flu: Virtually 1 / 4 of individuals (22%) say consuming uncooked milk will increase the probabilities you’ll get H5N1 or fowl flu, up from 15% in July 2024, although that is unchanged from November 2024. An equal quantity (22%) say consuming uncooked milk has no impact come what may on whether or not you’ll get fowl flu, although fewer folks imagine that in the present day than in November 2024 (35%). Over half of these surveyed (53%) usually are not positive what impact consuming uncooked milk has on getting fowl flu, up from 43% in November 2024.
The FDA has mentioned that by heating milk to a particular temperature for a time pasteurization kills dangerous micro organism and viruses, and that pasteurization will inactivate the fowl flu virus whether it is current in uncooked milk.
Uncooked milk and well being claims
APPC’s survey, which included non-milk drinkers, finds a small proportion of respondents (4%) who report having consumed uncooked or unpasteurized milk up to now 12 months, unchanged from our July 2024 survey. One other 2% weren’t positive whether or not they had consumed uncooked milk.
Survey respondents are equally break up between those that say uncooked milk has extra vitamins than pasteurized milk (28%) and people who say it has about the identical quantity of vitamins (28%). Forty p.c usually are not positive. The FDA says pasteurization kills pathogens in uncooked milk «with none vital influence on milk dietary high quality.»
Promoters of uncooked milk have made many claims about its well being advantages – however the FDA has categorized a lot of them as misconceptions, as is defined right here (present as of March 5, 2025). Although minorities imagine in these claims, the survey finds that many extra folks – about half of U.S. adults or extra – usually are not positive whether or not the claims are true or false:
- Bone thinning (osteoporosis): About 1 in 4 folks (26%) imagine that uncooked milk is «about as efficient» as pasteurized milk at stopping osteoporosis, though 10% incorrectly imagine uncooked milk is simpler and 59% are not sure. The FDA says uncooked milk will not be simpler than pasteurized milk at stopping osteoporosis.
- Lactose intolerance: 40% imagine that it’s false to say that usually consuming uncooked, unpasteurized milk cures lactose intolerance. However 10% incorrectly say that is true and 50% usually are not positive. The FDA says uncooked milk doesn’t treatment lactose intolerance.
- Bronchial asthma: 39% imagine it’s false to say that usually consuming uncooked milk reduces the signs of bronchial asthma, however 7% imagine it’s true and 54% usually are not positive. The FDA says that uncooked milk doesn’t treatment or deal with bronchial asthma and allergy.
- Immune system: 30% imagine it’s false to say that usually consuming uncooked milk enhances the human immune system, however 23% assume it’s true and 47% usually are not positive. The FDA says uncooked milk «will not be an immune system constructing meals and is especially unsafe for youngsters,» who’re often extra susceptible to pathogens in uncooked milk than adults.
- Youngsters’s vulnerability to illness: A couple of third (35%) know that youngsters are sometimes extra susceptible than adults to getting sick from the viruses and micro organism that may happen in uncooked milk. However 5% incorrectly assume they’re much less susceptible, 16% assume they’re «about as susceptible,» and 45% usually are not positive.
Authorities regulation of uncooked milk
The FDA has prohibited the interstate sale of uncooked milk since 1987, however 30 states in the US enable its sale in some type, in accordance with the FDA. Survey respondents had been requested for his or her views on authorities regulation of uncooked milk gross sales and sellers:
Interstate uncooked milk gross sales: Almost 1 / 4 of these surveyed (24%) favor the interstate sale of uncooked milk, and a barely bigger group (28%) opposes it, statistically unchanged from September 2024. Almost half of respondents both usually are not positive (18%) or neither favor nor oppose it (29%).
Uncooked milk gross sales inside a state: Almost 1 / 4 (24%) favor the unrestricted sale of uncooked milk within the state through which they dwell, and one other quarter (25%) say the sale of uncooked milk ought to be banned, apart from farmers promoting from their very own dairy herds on their very own land. Fourteen p.c say the sale of uncooked milk ought to be banned of their states, and 37% usually are not positive.
Authorities intrusion: Almost a 3rd (32%) agree that federal authorities laws of uncooked unpasteurized milk are «one other instance of pointless authorities intrusion in folks’s lives,» whereas a like quantity (34%) disagree. A 3rd (33%) neither agree nor disagree.
The rights of uncooked milk sellers: 1 / 4 (25%) agree that state legal guidelines prohibiting the sale of uncooked milk violate the constitutional rights of uncooked milk sellers, whereas a 3rd (34%) disagree, and 41% neither agree nor disagree. (Requested of a random half-sample.)
Warning labels: Over half (56%) don’t assume that state legal guidelines requiring labels on uncooked milk containers warning in regards to the dangers of consuming uncooked milk violate the constitutional rights of uncooked milk sellers, whereas 14% assume the state legal guidelines do violate their rights. Almost a 3rd (30%) neither agree nor disagree. (Requested of a random half-sample.)
USDA testing of uncooked milk: Requested in how most of the states the U.S. Division of Agriculture is testing uncooked milk for fowl flu virus, 74% usually are not positive. Two p.c say «none,» and 1 / 4 of these surveyed say both «some» (10%), «most» (9%), or «all» (5%). As of Jan. 8, 2025, the USDA says its Nationwide Milk Testing Technique has enrolled 28 states, accounting for almost 65% of the nation’s milk manufacturing.
APPC’s Annenberg Science and Public Well being data survey
The survey information come from the twenty third wave of a nationally consultant panel of 1,716 U.S. adults performed for the Annenberg Public Coverage Heart by SSRS, an impartial market analysis firm. Most have been empaneled since April 2021. To account for attrition, replenishment samples have been added over time utilizing a random likelihood sampling design. The latest replenishment, in September 2024, added 360 respondents to the pattern. This wave of the Annenberg Science and Public Well being Data (ASAPH) survey was fielded Jan. 30-Feb. 10, 2025. The margin of sampling error (MOE) is ± 3.4 share factors on the 95% confidence degree. All figures are rounded to the closest entire quantity and will not add to 100%. Mixed subcategories might not add to totals within the topline and textual content on account of rounding.
