Raw milk: a raw deal

Foodborne illnesses can occur when we consume foods that are contaminated with harmful bacteria such as Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC). Some common sources of STEC include dairy products and undercooked meat. Ingesting these contaminated foods can lead to serious health issues, especially in children and individuals with weakened immune systems, such as kidney disease and haemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which can be life-threatening.

In August of 2022, the Tennessee Health Department discovered two cases of STEC infection in infants. Unfortunately, one of the infants developed HUS and had to be hospitalised for 27 days. An investigation into the outbreak revealed that although the affected families were not officially part of a cow-share programme, they had obtained raw milk from individuals who were part of a cow-share group comprising around 125 families from Georgia, Tennessee, and North Carolina. These families regularly consumed raw milk. Further investigation uncovered three more cases of STEC infection in children. Fortunately, there were no fatalities among the five children.

The investigation also revealed that the dairy responsible for supplying raw milk from 10 cows had several points in their production process that could have contributed to the contamination.

This report serves as a reminder of the risks associated with drinking raw milk and raises concerns about obtaining this product from uninspected cow-sharing operations, particularly in rural areas.

If a STEC infection is suspected or confirmed, it is crucial to promptly report it to the appropriate health department. This helps determine the source of the infection and allows for measures to limit its spread.