11/2014, 20.05.2014
Children, pregnant women, elderly and sick persons should refrain from consuming raw milk and raw milk products
Especially in the summer months, holidaymakers are fond of buying fresh milk directly from farmers. In addition, farms with cows and milk tasting are popular excursion destinations for school and kindergarten groups. However, the fact that consuming raw milk can lead to illness is evidently not sufficiently understood as shown by reports on outbreaks of disease received by the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) every year. "Raw milk from the farm should always be boiled prior to consumption, because it may be contaminated with pathogens such as campylobacter or EHEC", explains Prof. Dr. Dr. Andreas Hensel, President of the BfR. Children, pregnant women, elderly and sick people in particular should refrain from consuming raw milk and raw milk products. This recommendation also applies to school and other groups of children visiting farms.
Every year, the BfR receives reports on outbreaks of disease caused by the consumption of raw milk on farms or during holidays in the countryside. Most frequently, this leads to infections with campylobacter which usually manifest themselves as diarrhoea, fever and abdominal pain. Less frequently, EHEC infections following farm visits have been reported. However, EHEC infections are often much more severe. Notably in small children, EHEC infections can lead to haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS) which can in term cause lasting kidney damage.
Both campylobacter and EHEC bacteria are found, for example, in the intestine of cattle and are excreted with the faeces. For this reason, the pathogens can get into the milk during the milking process. In addition, other pathogens such as salmonella, listeria and the Q fever pathogen can be contained in raw milk. Through sufficient heating of the milk, for example through pasteurisation, ultra heat treatment or boiling, existing pathogens are killed off, however.
To ensure protection against infections, the sale of raw milk is generally banned in Germany. One exception to this rule is the sale of “milk from the farm”: farmers who offer “milk from the farm” do not have to comply with special hygienic requirements. However, at point of sale, a clear notice must be displayed saying “raw milk - boil before consumption”.
Another exception is the sale of so-called “certified raw milk”. This is packed raw milk, available in retail stores, from specially controlled farms. Certified raw milk may be consumed raw due to the special hygienic regulations and controls in place. However, it cannot be excluded that even certified raw milk contains pathogens that can cause infections in especially sensitive groups of persons.
The packaging of certified milk contains a note making it compulsory to store the milk at a maximum of 8°C. In addition, the term “raw milk” and the use-by date must appear on the packaging. The use-by date specifies the date by which especially perishable goods should be consumed. For certified raw milk the rule applies that the use-by date must not exceed 96 hours from the time of milking. Consumers must observe the storage instructions under all circ*mstances. If intended for risk groups, even certified milk must be boiled before consumption.
Raw milk sold from the farm and certified raw milk must not be sold in communal catering facilities such as canteens and hospital kitchens.
About the BfR
The Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) is a scientific institution within the portfolio of the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL). It advises the Federal Government and Federal Laender on questions of food, chemical and product safety. The BfR conducts its own research on topics that are closely linked to its assessment tasks.
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FAQs
"Raw milk from the farm should always be boiled prior to consumption, because it may be contaminated with pathogens such as campylobacter or EHEC", explains Prof. Dr.
Does boiling raw milk make it safe? ›
Thus, you don't have to boil milk for safety reasons unless it's raw, unpasteurized milk. In that case, bringing it to a boil or near a boil will significantly reduce most bacteria levels sufficiently ( 1 ). People often boil milk when they use it in cooking. You can boil raw milk to kill any harmful bacteria.
What are the odds of getting sick from raw milk? ›
With approximately 9.4 million people drinking raw milk, that means you have about a 1 in 6 million chance of being hospitalized from drinking raw milk.
Is raw milk good for the immune system? ›
Some people believe that drinking raw milk can strengthen their immune system. However, there is no scientific evidence to support that drinking raw milk can improve immunity against disease.
How to make raw milk safe to drink? ›
Heat the milk to 63°C (150°F) for at least 30 minutes or 72°C (162°F) for at least 15 seconds. If the temperature falls lower than the one you're using, you have to start timing again.
Do the Amish drink raw milk? ›
In the old Order Amish way of life many chores around the farm are still done they way they where in the late 1800's, and milking cows is know different. Each day depending on the number of cows and the amount of nutrition the cows intake. An Amish family will get many gallons of "Raw" milk, straight from the cow.
What to do after boiling raw milk? ›
Do not leave your milk out in the open for long time after boiling. Once milk cools down refrigerate it for longer shelf life. Do not heat milk repeatedly - just boil once and try to use it without reboiling.
What bacterial infections can you get from raw milk? ›
What kinds of harmful germs can raw milk contain? Raw milk can contain dangerous bacteria such as Salmonella, E. coli, Campylobacter, Staphylococcus aureus, Yersinia, Brucella,Coxiella and Listeria.
How common is E coli in raw milk? ›
coli O157. In the present study, E. coli was isolated from 33.8% (95% CI 29.9–37.9%) of the raw cow milk and milk product samples, which is consistent with the 33.9% prevalence of E. coli reported by Disassa et al.24.
Does all raw milk contain Listeria? ›
Raw milk and raw dairy products can pose severe health risks, including death. Raw milk is milk from cows or other animals that has not been pasteurized to kill harmful bacteria, so it can carry dangerous bacteria such as Listeria, Salmonella, E. coli, and Campylobacter.
The probiotics found in raw milk also release anti-inflammatory chemicals and help you digest your food.
How raw milk heals the gut? ›
Raw milk alters gut microbiome so that glucose is better metabolized – preventing metabolic syndromes like diabetes and insulin resistance. Raw milk heals the intestinal lining and “leaky gut”. Raw milk rebalances the gut microbiome toward “good bacteria”.
Is raw milk a probiotic? ›
There are no beneficial bacteria in raw milk for gastrointestinal health. Bacteria found in raw milk are not probiotic. Probiotic microorganisms must be non-pathogenic (Teitelbaum and Walker, 2000). In contrast, raw milk can host various human pathogens, including E.
Is it OK to boil raw milk? ›
"Raw milk from the farm should always be boiled prior to consumption, because it may be contaminated with pathogens such as campylobacter or EHEC", explains Prof. Dr. Dr. Andreas Hensel, President of the BfR .
Should you heat raw milk? ›
Bringing unpasteurized milk to a boil will make it less nutritious, but it can also kill the bacteria that could make you seriously ill, so the tradeoff is probably worth it.
What happens if we drink raw milk without boiling? ›
Raw milk is the one which we buy from milk vendors and it directly comes from milking the cows. This type of milk definitely needs boiling in order to eliminate the bacteria which might weaken the immune system and affect the health of pregnant women and children.
Is it safe to heat up raw milk? ›
Bringing unpasteurized milk to a boil will make it less nutritious, but it can also kill the bacteria that could make you seriously ill, so the tradeoff is probably worth it.
What happens if you boil spoiled milk? ›
Spoiled milk is the result of an overgrowth of bacteria that causes changes in taste, smell, and texture. Drinking it may make you sick, but cooking with it won't, as long as it's just a little off. Using your slightly spoiled milk in innovative ways can also help you reduce food waste.
Is it safe to boil milk for hot chocolate? ›
It's essential not to let the milk come to a boil, as this can change its flavour profile and make it taste burnt. Mix with Hot Chocolate: Now, you can either add your chocolate directly into the saucepan or pour the warmed milk over your chocolate in a mug, mixing well until smooth and thoroughly combined.
What happens when you boil human milk? ›
Boiling, in addition, destroys lipase and reduces the effect of immunoglobulin A and secretory immunoglobulin A. The nutrient value of human milk is essentially unchanged, but the immunological properties are reduced by various storage techniques.
