Why drinking raw milk can be dangerous for your health

Milk and dairy products are essential for overall health as they provide essential vitamins and minerals necessary for bone health, improving digestion and cell repair. In India, however, a common practice such as drinking raw milk has been under the radar for some time, especially among experts.

Although in many regions of the country drinking raw milk is considered a natural food with a superior nutritional profile containing more amino acids, antimicrobials, vitamins, minerals and fatty acids, experts have pushed back against this view and suggested that drinking raw milk could be a healthier food. dangerous to health.

HARMFUL EFFECTS OF DRINKING RAW MILK

In India, the standard of milk consumption involves taking milk straight from the farm and boiling it before drinking it. Recently, however, drinking unpasteurized milk has been gaining popularity, mainly due to social media trends.

Many people believe that raw milk does not cause lactose intolerance because it contains lactase secreted by “beneficial” or probiotic bacteria present in raw milk. Probiotics are beneficial for maintaining a gut microbiome, which means healthy digestion.

However, studies by the US Food Drug and Administration (FDA), among others, have shown that raw milk does not contain probiotics. In fact, there are several health risks associated with drinking raw milk.

Raw milk contains different types of bacteria, such as E.coli, coliform bacteria, salmonella, listeria and staphylococci, among others. To make milk suitable for consumption, these pathogens must be eliminated.

• E. coli – This bacteria causes enteritis, urinary tract infection, etc., when it exceeds the threshold value. It should be absent in the milk.
• exceeds the threshold level. It should be absent in the milk.
• Coliform bacteria – Their presence indicates an unsanitary production process.
• Salmonella – It causes food poisoning and typhoid fever.
• Listeria – causes listeriosis infections that can cause symptoms such as fever, vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy and breathing difficulties.
• Staphylococcus – It causes food poisoning, diarrhea and gastritis.

According to the Indian government, raw milk should be boiled as early as possible to kill any bacteria present.

Dr. Vibhu Kawatra, Senior Consultant Pulmonologist Pediatrician, Vibhu Nursing Home, New Delhi, “Raw milk is not recommended for drinking as it can carry bacteria such as E. coli, Salmonella, Listeria and Campylobacter, which can cause serious gastrointestinal infections. It may also contain pathogens that lead to foodborne illness and pose health risks, especially to children, the elderly and pregnant women.”

Dr. Kawatra added that long-term consumption of raw milk can damage the kidneys, leading to E. coli-related infections and even kidney failure.

Dr. Cyriac Abby Philips, also known as The Liver Doc, called on people not to drink raw milk in a recent post on X. Many of the bacterial infections in it are not easy to treat. “Some of these can ruin your life (for example, Listeria can attack the brain and cause your child to have repeated seizures) or kill you (a severe Salmonella infection can lead to shock and shut down the heart and brain within a limited time),” wrote Dr. Phillips. in his message.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): “The germs in raw milk may be especially dangerous for people with weakened immune systems (such as transplant patients and those with HIV/AIDS, cancer, and diabetes), children, older adults, and pregnant women. women.”

Drinking raw or unpasteurized milk can cause vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal pain, including flu-like symptoms.

Pasteurization is essential to make milk safe. Furthermore, much of the country’s unregulated milk production involves the use of chemicals, which is worrying. “It is best to purchase pasteurized milk from reputable sources and boil it before consuming it,” Dr. Kawatra underlined.