Creator: Annenberg Public Coverage Middle of the College of Pennsylvania
Printed: 2025/03/14
Publication Sort: Stories & Proceedings
Matter: Avian Influenza (Hen Flu) – Publications Checklist
Web page Content material: Synopsis – Introduction – Major – Insights, Updates
Synopsis: This text titled “With chicken flu in uncooked milk, many in U.S. nonetheless have no idea dangers of consuming it” emphasizes the numerous well being dangers related to consuming uncooked, unpasteurized milk, notably in mild of latest detection of the H5N1 chicken flu virus in such merchandise. Regardless of these findings, a considerable portion of the U.S. inhabitants stays unaware of the hazards posed by uncooked milk consumption. This lack of knowledge is particularly regarding for susceptible teams resembling youngsters, seniors, and people with compromised immune programs, who’re at greater danger of extreme sickness from pathogens current in uncooked milk.
The article underscores the essential significance of pasteurization – a course of that successfully eliminates dangerous micro organism and viruses – to make sure the protection of dairy merchandise. It is fascinating as a result of it reveals a present, evolving scenario relating to a typical meals product and its potential to unfold a severe virus, making it a beneficial useful resource for anybody involved about their well being and the well being of their family members. By shedding mild on these points, the article serves as a beneficial useful resource for educating the general public about meals security practices and the potential well being implications of consuming unpasteurized dairy merchandise. – Disabled World (DW).
Introduction
Though the Meals and Drug Administration (FDA) situated H5N1 chicken flu virus in samples of uncooked, or unpasteurized, milk in exams in 4 states in April 2024, and chicken flu has been detected in commercially offered uncooked milk, many People have no idea that consuming uncooked milk and its merchandise poses better well being dangers than consuming pasteurized milk and its merchandise, particularly for youngsters. Consuming uncooked milk can expose one to Salmonella, E. coli, Campylobacter, Cryptosporidium, Listeria, and Brucella – and, doubtlessly, H5N1 chicken flu.
Focus
A majority of U.S. adults (56%) is aware of that consuming uncooked milk from cows, sheep, or goats is much less secure than consuming pasteurized milk. However over 4 in 10 People both usually are not certain (25%), assume uncooked milk is “simply as secure to drink” as pasteurized milk (12%) or assume it’s “safer to drink” (6%), based on a latest survey by the Annenberg Public Coverage Middle (APPC) of the College of Pennsylvania. The findings are statistically unchanged from APPC’s July 2024 survey. Virtually a 3rd of individuals (32%) know that consuming uncooked milk will increase an individual’s danger of foodborne sickness, although 14% assume it has no impact and 51% usually are not certain.
The survey, performed Jan. 30-Feb. 10, 2025, amongst greater than 1,700 empaneled U.S. adults, additionally finds that two-thirds (66%) have no idea that youngsters are extra susceptible than adults to getting sick from the viruses and micro organism that may happen in uncooked milk. (See the topline for information.)
“Consuming uncooked milk and uncooked milk merchandise could make you sick and pasteurization reduces the danger of milk-borne sickness,” mentioned Patrick E. Jamieson, director of APPC’s Annenberg Well being and Danger Communication Institute. “Searching for the pasteurization label earlier than shopping for or consuming milk or milk merchandise resembling cheese is nice observe.”
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Hen Flu
As of March 10, 2025, 70 confirmed U.S. circumstances of H5 chicken flu have been detected in folks in 13 states, almost all from publicity to contaminated poultry or dairy herds, based on the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention (CDC). One dying from chicken flu has been reported, involving a affected person in Louisiana. To this point there have been no reported circumstances of human-to-human transmission.
From January 2022 by March 11, 2025, chicken flu has been detected in almost a thousand dairy herds in 17 states, and it has affected over 166 million poultry and wild aquatic birds, masking all states. Globally, based on the World Well being Group, from Jan. 1, 2003-Dec. 12, 2024, “954 circumstances of human an infection with avian influenza A(H5N1) virus had been reported from 24 nations. Of those 954 circumstances, 464 had been deadly.”
Researchers have discovered that mice will be contaminated with chicken flu by consuming uncooked milk. Though the FDA doesn’t at the moment know whether or not H5N1 will be transmitted to people by the consumption of uncooked milk, a research with mice means that the virus in “untreated milk can infect prone animals that eat it.” The Nationwide Institutes of Well being says this implies “that consuming uncooked milk could pose a danger of transmission to folks.”
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Uncooked Milk and Hen Flu
Hen flu in uncooked milk:
The overwhelming majority of U.S. adults have no idea that chicken flu has been detected to this point solely in uncooked milk, not pasteurized milk. Simply 17% know that chicken flu has been discovered solely in uncooked milk. Two % incorrectly say chicken flu has been discovered solely in pasteurized milk, 7% say it has been present in each, 7% say it has been present in neither, and over two-thirds of these surveyed (68%) usually are not certain.
Uncooked milk and your possibilities of getting chicken flu:
Virtually 1 / 4 of individuals (22%) say consuming uncooked milk will increase the possibilities you’re going to get H5N1 or chicken flu, up from 15% in July 2024, although that is unchanged from November 2024. An equal quantity (22%) say consuming uncooked milk has no impact in some way on whether or not you’re going to get chicken flu, although fewer folks imagine that at this time than in November 2024 (35%). Over half of these surveyed (53%) usually are not certain what impact consuming uncooked milk has on getting chicken flu, up from 43% in November 2024.
The FDA has mentioned that by heating milk to a selected temperature for a time pasteurization kills dangerous micro organism and viruses, and that pasteurization will inactivate the chicken flu virus whether it is current in uncooked milk.
Uncooked milk and Well being Claims
APPC’s survey, which included non-milk drinkers, finds a small proportion of respondents (4%) who report having consumed uncooked or unpasteurized milk up to now 12 months, unchanged from our July 2024 survey. One other 2% weren’t certain whether or not they had consumed uncooked milk.
Survey respondents are equally break up between those that say uncooked milk has extra vitamins than pasteurized milk (28%) and those that say it has about the identical quantity of vitamins (28%). Forty % usually are not certain. The FDA says pasteurization kills pathogens in uncooked milk “with none important affect on milk dietary high quality.”
Promoters of uncooked milk have made many claims about its well being advantages – however the FDA has categorized numerous them as misconceptions, as is defined right here (present as of March 5, 2025). Although minorities imagine in these claims, the survey finds that many extra folks – about half of U.S. adults or extra – usually are not certain whether or not the claims are true or false:
- Bone thinning (osteoporosis): About 1 in 4 folks (26%) imagine that uncooked milk is “about as efficient” as pasteurized milk at stopping osteoporosis, though 10% incorrectly imagine uncooked milk is more practical and 59% are not sure. The FDA says uncooked milk isn’t more practical than pasteurized milk at stopping osteoporosis.
- Lactose intolerance: 40% imagine that it’s false to say that frequently consuming uncooked, unpasteurized milk cures lactose intolerance. However 10% incorrectly say that is true and 50% usually are not certain. The FDA says uncooked milk doesn’t remedy lactose intolerance.
- Bronchial asthma: 39% imagine it’s false to say that frequently consuming uncooked milk reduces the signs of bronchial asthma, however 7% imagine it’s true and 54% usually are not certain. The FDA says that uncooked milk doesn’t remedy or deal with bronchial asthma and allergy.
- Immune system: 30% imagine it’s false to say that frequently consuming uncooked milk enhances the human immune system, however 23% assume it’s true and 47% usually are not certain. The FDA says uncooked milk “isn’t an immune system constructing meals and is especially unsafe for youngsters,” who’re often extra susceptible to pathogens in uncooked milk than adults.
- Youngsters’s vulnerability to illness: A couple of third (35%) know that youngsters are sometimes extra susceptible than adults to getting sick from the viruses and micro organism that may happen in uncooked milk. However 5% incorrectly assume they’re much less susceptible, 16% assume they’re “about as susceptible,” and 45% usually are not certain.
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Authorities Regulation of Uncooked Milk
The FDA has prohibited the interstate sale of uncooked milk since 1987, however 30 states in america enable its sale in some type, based on the FDA. Survey respondents had been requested for his or her views on authorities regulation of uncooked milk gross sales and sellers:
Interstate uncooked milk gross sales
Practically 1 / 4 of these surveyed (24%) favor the interstate sale of uncooked milk, and a barely bigger group (28%) opposes it, statistically unchanged from September 2024. Practically half of respondents both usually are not certain (18%) or neither favor nor oppose it (29%).
Uncooked milk gross sales inside a state
Practically 1 / 4 (24%) favor the unrestricted sale of uncooked milk within the state wherein they dwell, and one other quarter (25%) say the sale of uncooked milk ought to be banned, aside from farmers promoting from their very own dairy herds on their very own land. Fourteen % say the sale of uncooked milk ought to be banned of their states, and 37% usually are not certain.
Authorities intrusion
Practically a 3rd (32%) agree that federal authorities laws of uncooked unpasteurized milk are “one other instance of pointless authorities intrusion in folks’s lives,” whereas a like quantity (34%) disagree. A 3rd (33%) neither agree nor disagree.
The rights of uncooked milk sellers
1 / 4 (25%) agree that state legal guidelines prohibiting the sale of uncooked milk violate the constitutional rights of uncooked milk sellers, whereas a 3rd (34%) disagree, and 41% neither agree nor disagree. (Requested of a random half-sample.)
Warning labels
Over half (56%) don’t assume that state legal guidelines requiring labels on uncooked milk containers warning in regards to the dangers of consuming uncooked milk violate the constitutional rights of uncooked milk sellers, whereas 14% assume the state legal guidelines do violate their rights. Practically a 3rd (30%) neither agree nor disagree. (Requested of a random half-sample.)
USDA testing of uncooked milk
Requested in how lots of the states the U.S. Division of Agriculture is testing uncooked milk for chicken flu virus, 74% usually are not certain. Two % say “none,” and 1 / 4 of these surveyed say both “some” (10%), “most” (9%), or “all” (5%). As of Jan. 8, 2025, the USDA says its Nationwide Milk Testing Technique has enrolled 28 states, accounting for almost 65% of the nation’s milk manufacturing.
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APPC’s Annenberg Science and Public Well being Information Survey
The survey information come from the twenty third wave of a nationally consultant panel of 1,716 U.S. adults performed for the Annenberg Public Coverage Middle by SSRS, an impartial market analysis firm. Most have been empaneled since April 2021. To account for attrition, replenishment samples have been added over time utilizing a random likelihood sampling design. The latest replenishment, in September 2024, added 360 respondents to the pattern. This wave of the Annenberg Science and Public Well being Information (ASAPH) survey was fielded Jan. 30-Feb. 10, 2025. The margin of sampling error (MOE) is ± 3.4 proportion factors on the 95% confidence degree. All figures are rounded to the closest entire quantity and will not add to 100%. Mixed subcategories could not add to totals within the topline and textual content as a consequence of rounding.
The coverage heart has been monitoring the American public’s information, beliefs, and behaviors relating to vaccination, Covid-19, flu, RSV, and different consequential well being points by this survey panel for almost 4 years. Along with Jamieson, APPC’s group on the survey consists of analysis analysts Laura A. Gibson and Shawn Patterson Jr.; Ken Winneg, managing director of survey analysis; and Kathleen Corridor Jamieson, the director of APPC.
Editorial Observe: Meals security is not only a matter of private alternative – it has public well being penalties. Whereas some folks advocate for the advantages of uncooked milk, the science is obvious: unpasteurized dairy can carry harmful pathogens, and now, doubtlessly even chicken flu. The dangers far outweigh any perceived advantages. As outbreaks and well being scares proceed to emerge, it’s vital that buyers, policymakers, and well being officers take this difficulty significantly. The present scenario with avian influenza in uncooked milk serves as a stark reminder that our meals programs are consistently evolving, and vigilance is paramount.
Whereas the controversy surrounding uncooked milk consumption usually facilities on private alternative, the potential for widespread public well being penalties, particularly for essentially the most susceptible amongst us, calls for a renewed concentrate on knowledgeable decision-making. It isn’t about dictating dietary habits, however making certain everybody has entry to clear, scientifically-backed data to navigate these rising dangers. The duty falls on each public well being companies to speak successfully and on people to hunt out dependable sources, fostering a collective understanding that protects the well being of our communities. Making knowledgeable selections is not nearly particular person well-being; it is about defending the broader neighborhood from preventable sickness. – Disabled World (DW).
Attribution/Supply(s): This quality-reviewed publication was chosen for publishing by the editors of Disabled World (DW) as a consequence of its relevance to the incapacity neighborhood. Initially authored by Annenberg Public Coverage Middle of the College of Pennsylvania and printed on 2025/03/14, this content material could have been edited for type, readability, or brevity. For additional particulars or clarifications, Annenberg Public Coverage Middle of the College of Pennsylvania will be contacted at annenbergpublicpolicycenter.org NOTE: Disabled World doesn’t present any warranties or endorsements associated to this text.
