Though the Meals and Drug Administration (FDA) positioned H5N1 chicken flu virus in samples of uncooked, or unpasteurized, milk in assessments in 4 states in April 2024, and chicken flu has been detected in commercially offered uncooked milk, many Individuals have no idea that consuming uncooked milk and its merchandise poses higher well being dangers than consuming pasteurized milk and its merchandise, particularly for kids. Consuming uncooked milk can expose one to Salmonella, E. coli, Campylobacter, Cryptosporidium, Listeria, and Brucella – and, probably, H5N1 chicken flu.
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 Individuals both should not positive (25%), suppose uncooked milk is “simply as secure to drink” as pasteurized milk (12%) or suppose it’s “safer to drink” (6%), in response to 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% suppose it has no impact and 51% should not positive.
The survey, carried out Jan. 30-Feb. 10, 2025, amongst greater than 1,700 empaneled U.S. adults, additionally finds that two-thirds (66%) have no idea that kids are extra susceptible than adults to getting sick from the viruses and micro organism that may happen in uncooked milk.
Consuming uncooked milk and uncooked milk merchandise could make you sick and pasteurization reduces the danger of milk-borne sickness. In search of the pasteurization label earlier than shopping for or consuming milk or milk merchandise corresponding to cheese is sweet observe.”
Patrick E. Jamieson, Director, APPC’s Annenberg Well being and Threat Communication Institute
Fowl flu
As of March 10, 2025, 70 confirmed U.S. instances of H5 chicken flu have been detected in individuals in 13 states, almost all from publicity to contaminated poultry or dairy herds, in response to the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention (CDC). One demise from chicken flu has been reported, involving a affected person in Louisiana. To this point there have been no reported instances of human-to-human transmission.
From January 2022 by way of 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, in response to the World Well being Group, from Jan. 1, 2003-Dec. 12, 2024, “954 instances of human an infection with avian influenza A(H5N1) virus have been reported from 24 nations. Of those 954 instances, 464 have been deadly.”
Researchers have discovered that mice may be contaminated with chicken flu by consuming uncooked milk. Though the FDA doesn’t at the moment know whether or not H5N1 may be transmitted to people by way of the consumption of uncooked milk, a research with mice means that the virus in “untreated milk can infect inclined animals that eat it.” The Nationwide Institutes of Well being says this means “that consuming uncooked milk could pose a danger of transmission to individuals.”
Uncooked milk and chicken flu
Fowl 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 p.c 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%) should not positive.
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 by hook or by crook on whether or not you’re going to get chicken flu, although fewer individuals consider that immediately than in November 2024 (35%). Over half of these surveyed (53%) should not positive what impact consuming uncooked milk has on getting chicken flu, up from 43% in November 2024.
The FDA has stated 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 prior to now 12 months, unchanged from our July 2024 survey. One other 2% weren’t positive 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 p.c should not positive. The FDA says pasteurization kills pathogens in uncooked milk “with none vital influence on milk dietary high quality.”
Promoters of uncooked milk have made many claims about its well being advantages – however the FDA has categorized a lot of them as misconceptions, as is defined right here (present as of March 5, 2025). Although minorities consider in these claims, the survey finds that many extra individuals – about half of U.S. adults or extra – should not positive whether or not the claims are true or false:
- Bone thinning (osteoporosis): About 1 in 4 individuals (26%) consider that uncooked milk is “about as efficient” as pasteurized milk at stopping osteoporosis, though 10% incorrectly consider uncooked milk is more practical and 59% are uncertain. The FDA says uncooked milk will not be more practical than pasteurized milk at stopping osteoporosis.
- Lactose intolerance: 40% consider that it’s false to say that repeatedly consuming uncooked, unpasteurized milk cures lactose intolerance. However 10% incorrectly say that is true and 50% should not positive. The FDA says uncooked milk doesn’t remedy lactose intolerance.
- Bronchial asthma: 39% consider it’s false to say that repeatedly consuming uncooked milk reduces the signs of bronchial asthma, however 7% consider it’s true and 54% should not positive. The FDA says that uncooked milk doesn’t remedy or deal with bronchial asthma and allergy.
- Immune system: 30% consider it’s false to say that repeatedly consuming uncooked milk enhances the human immune system, however 23% suppose it’s true and 47% should not positive. The FDA says uncooked milk “will not be an immune system constructing meals and is especially unsafe for kids,” who’re often extra susceptible to pathogens in uncooked milk than adults.
- Kids’s vulnerability to illness: A few third (35%) know that kids are usually extra susceptible than adults to getting sick from the viruses and micro organism that may happen in uncooked milk. However 5% incorrectly suppose they’re much less susceptible, 16% suppose they’re “about as susceptible,” and 45% should not positive.
Authorities regulation of uncooked milk
The FDA has prohibited the interstate sale of uncooked milk since 1987, however 30 states in the USA enable its sale in some kind, in response to the FDA. Survey respondents have been requested for his or her views on authorities regulation of uncooked milk gross sales and sellers:
Interstate uncooked milk gross sales: Almost 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. Almost half of respondents both should not positive (18%) or neither favor nor oppose it (29%).
Uncooked milk gross sales inside a state: Almost 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 must be banned, apart from farmers promoting from their very own dairy herds on their very own land. Fourteen p.c say the sale of uncooked milk must be banned of their states, and 37% should not positive.
Authorities intrusion: Almost a 3rd (32%) agree that federal authorities laws of uncooked unpasteurized milk are “one other instance of pointless authorities intrusion in individuals’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 suppose 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% suppose the state legal guidelines do violate their rights. Almost 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% should not positive. Two p.c 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.
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 carried out for the Annenberg Public Coverage Middle by SSRS, an unbiased market analysis firm. Most have been empaneled since April 2021. To account for attrition, replenishment samples have been added over time utilizing a random chance sampling design. The newest replenishment, in September 2024, added 360 respondents to the pattern. This wave of the Annenberg Science and Public Well being Data (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 result of rounding.
