Dozens of people sickened with deadly bacteria after drinking contaminated raw milk
Nearly 60 people in Idaho have gotten sick from drinking unpasteurized, raw milk since last month.
Idaho Department of Health and Welfare officials confirmed that 45 of those people had campylobacteriosis, a bacterial infection caused by Campylobacter. The infections were reported starting May 19.
According to officials, the majority of the people who became sick ‘reported consuming raw milk from two different milking operations – one in northern Idaho and one in southern Idaho.’ Now, authorities are racing to identify the ‘batches of concern.’
Both farms are cooperating with health officials to identify and fix any potential sources of contamination.
Campylobacter infection is one of the most common causes of diarrheal illness in the US. People typically become infected by consuming undercooked poultry, untreated water, or unpasteurized dairy products, as well as from close contact with an infected animal.
Symptoms, including diarrhea, fever, stomach cramps, nausea and/or vomiting, usually begin two to five days after exposure to the bacteria and last about a week. Most people recover on their own without treatment but some develop complications that last longer.
Young children, pregnant women, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems are at the highest risk for severe illness.
Pasteurization is a simple, safe process that heats milk to a specific temperature for a set period to kill harmful bacteria without significantly altering the milk’s taste or nutritional value.
The CDC warns that raw milk carries serious risks. Pasteurization destroys illness-causing bacteria, including listeria and salmonella in addition to Campylobacter and E. coli (stock)
‘Raw, unpasteurized dairy products can contain bacteria that make people sick, particularly young children, pregnant women, the elderly, and those who are immunocompromised,’ Idaho officials said.
‘Pasteurization kills nearly all the germs that can exist in raw milk while maintaining nutritional benefits.’
This is not Idaho’s first raw milk outbreak. In February, nine people, including two children, were hospitalized in Ada County with E. Coli infections linked to raw milk.
Two children developed a serious complication called hemolytic uremic syndrome, which can lead to kidney failure.
Another outbreak in November sickened 26 people, including six children under 12.
The CDC warns against drinking unpasteurized dairy products. Pasteurization kills dangerous germs, including Campylobacter and E. coli, as well as listeria and salmonella.
The agency said: ‘Even healthy animals may carry germs that can contaminate milk. Small numbers of bacteria can multiply and grow in raw milk from the time it is collected until the time a person drinks it.
‘Choosing pasteurized milk is the best way to keep you and your family safe.’
Raw milk advocates claim the beverage is healthy as it is ‘natural’ and that heat treatment destroys vitamins
Between 1998 and 2018, the CDC recorded more than 200 outbreaks linked to raw milk, resulting in more than 2,600 illnesses, 225 hospitalizations and three deaths.
The agency notes that outbreaks likely represent only a fraction of actual illnesses, as many cases go unreported.
Contrary to claims made by raw milk advocates, pasteurization does not reduce the nutritional quality of milk.
According to the FDA and the CDC, pasteurized milk retains the same levels of protein, calcium and vitamins as raw milk.
The only significant nutrient loss is a slight reduction in thiamine and vitamin B12, which is no greater than the loss that occurs from simply refrigerating milk for a few days.
Despite this, raw milk has grown in popularity in recent years, especially within the ‘Make America Healthy Again’ movement, which frames it as a natural, unprocessed food that government agencies like the FDA have unfairly suppressed.
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr has championed raw milk, promising before Donald Trump’s 2024 election victory to end the FDA’s ‘war’ on the beverage.
Laws governing the sale of raw milk are a patchwork across the US. Idaho does not require raw milk to be tested for bacteria like Campylobacter or E. coli before it is sold.
HHS Secretary RFK Jr. says he drinks only raw milk, and supporters of the Make America Healthy Again movement have welcomed his past remarks about addressing the issue while in office
On the opposite side of the issue, Utah’s 2025 law requires raw milk to be free of dangerous bacteria like E. coli, listeria, salmonella and Campylobacter.
It also sets strict limits on bacterial counts and requires testing if those limits are exceeded or if an outbreak occurs.
The most common pasteurization method is high-temperature short-time pasteurization, which heats milk to 161 degrees Fahrenheit for 15 seconds.
An alternative method, called ultra-high-temperature pasteurization, heats milk to 280 degrees Fahrenheit for just two seconds, allowing it to be stored unrefrigerated for months.
Proponents of raw milk argue that it tastes better, contains more nutrients and includes beneficial enzymes and probiotics that pasteurization destroys.
Some claim it can prevent or treat asthma, allergies, eczema and digestive disorders, though the scientific evidence does not support these claims.
