Pasteurisation of milk products packaged for human consumption, with the exception of a few aged cheeses, has been an FDA requirement since 1987. Diseases such as listeriosis, salmonellosis, campylobacteriosis, typhoid fever, tuberculosis, diphtheria and brucellosis may be acquired due to the consumption of unpasteurised milk products.
A total of eighty five outbreaks of human infections reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention between 1998 and 2008 resulted from raw milk consumption.
Statistics for these outbreaks are as follows.
- One thousand six hundred and fourteen reported illnesses,
- One hundred and eighty seven hospitalisations and
- Two deaths
FDA sources confirmed that due to the fact the not all foodborne illness is recognised and reported those numbers could in reality be higher.
It has been confirmed that the US Food and Drug Administration has detected a current outbreak of campylobacteriosis in Michigan. Twelve confirmed illnesses have been reported in the state recently.
An official statement released by the FDA referred to their collaboration with the “Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH), the Illinois Department of Public Health, the Indiana State Board of Animal Health and the Indiana State Health Department, to investigate the outbreak.” The raw milk in question originated from the Forest Grove Dairy in Middlebury, Indiana.
Drew Falkenstein, an associate with Marler Clark Attorneys at Law LLP, raised a question regarding the interstate supply of such produce. Federal law prohibits the interstate sale and shipment of raw milk. If a dairy uses a cow share agreement is that even a truly acceptable method of distribution? Cow or herd share agreements work on the principle that owners of animals may be allowed to consume the milk of their livestock without pasteurisation if they so wish. The FDA requirements apply to milk being sold into the consumer supply not personally obtaining it from your own livestock. A dairy may decide for example to sell shares of a cow or herd to many people so that each one owns a fraction of the animal. Since there would be so many owners involved it would be impractical for each person to handle the animal individually, the farmer is thus paid to look after it on their behalf in terms of feeding, housing and other such day to day issues. In time additional questions may be raised regarding this matter.