With bird flu virus detected in cow’s milk, U.S. health authorities have issued warnings against potential sources of exposure, including drinking raw or unpasteurized milk.
They have also reiterated that consuming uncooked or undercooked poultry or beef products can lead to illness. Despite these warnings, a new nationally representative survey by the Annenberg Public Policy Center (APPC) of the University of Pennsylvania reveals that many Americans are unsure of the correct internal temperatures needed to cook food safely. Raw milk consumption The survey, conducted in July 2024 among nearly 1,500 U.
S. adults, found that only three percent of respondents reported drinking raw milk in the past 12 months, while four percent were unsure if they had. Despite the low percentage of raw milk consumption, the dangers associated with it remain high.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that consuming unpasteurized milk and products made from it can expose individuals to harmful germs such as Campylobacter, Cryptosporidium, E. coli, Listeria, Brucella and Salmonella. In fact, a significant salmonella outbreak linked to unpasteurized milk from Raw Farm in Fresno, CA, sickened 171 people and hospitalized 22 from Sept.
2023 to March 2024. This outbreak is the largest recorded in over two decades related to raw milk. Pasteurization heats raw milk to 165 degrees F for at least 16 seconds.
Using a food thermometer The survey also highlighted a concerning gap in the use of.