Uncooked milk has been within the information lots currently, and lots of tout its well being advantages. We communicate with a researcher about misconceptions about unpasteurized dairy merchandise, and the dangers of consuming it.
MICHEL MARTIN, HOST:
The U.S. Division of Agriculture says it should start testing the nation’s milk provide in an effort to raised monitor chook flu. That is after the illness was detected in unpasteurized milk merchandise on a California farm. The sale of uncooked milk is authorized in most states, however there’s numerous misinformation about its well being advantages and dangers. President Trump’s nominee for secretary of well being and human providers, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., needs to reverse what he calls the, quote, “aggressive suppression,” unquote, of uncooked milk. Our co-host, A Martínez, spoke with Katelyn Jetelina. She is a public well being professional who writes the e-newsletter “Your Native Epidemiologist.”
KATELYN JETELINA: Individuals drink uncooked milk for a lot of completely different causes. Some is to help native farmers. Some report style variations, that it is extra creamy, for instance, than pasteurized milk. After which, after all, there’s numerous widespread misconceptions in regards to the well being advantages.
A MARTÍNEZ, BYLINE: Now, is there any fact, then, to the claims? As a result of the those who do declare well being uncooked milk advantages, they’re very fervent about their claims.
JETELINA: Proper. So what we have seen is that unpasteurized milk does not have extra vitamins than pasteurized, proper? We’ve a meta-analysis, which is about 40 separate research pooled, that discovered solely minor losses in some vitamins, like B1 and B6. However these vitamins are low in milk usually, and we get them from different dietary sources. One other widespread false impression is that uncooked milk is best for many who are lactose illiberal, and the proof additionally does not present this.
MARTÍNEZ: OK, so then what are the dangers of ingesting uncooked milk?
JETELINA: There is a cause we have now been pasteurizing milk for greater than 100 years. Earlier than the pasteurization course of, it is estimated that about 65,000 individuals died over 25 years as a result of contaminated dairy. And it isn’t simply the speedy impression. These infections can even have lingering penalties. So, for instance, one sort of micro organism may cause individuals to be paralyzed. One other sort of E. coli may cause uncommon however severe illness that impacts the kidneys and the blood clotting system. And so I believe the underside line is these risk-based decisions are simply – they don’t seem to be all the time black and white. However ingesting uncooked milk is like enjoying roulette with some actually probably severe dangers, particularly for youngsters.
MARTÍNEZ: You are an information scientist, Katelyn. You are an epidemiologist. When these sorts of meals traits occur, does it annoy you in any respect that you need to, like, inform individuals, OK, loosen up – a few of these belongings you’re listening to will not be true earlier than you begin making an attempt one thing all types of various?
JETELINA: I believe individuals have numerous questions that they want solutions to, and other people should be outfitted with evidence-based info to make their very own choices. And I am joyful to be right here to reply these questions.
MARTÍNEZ: Katelyn Jetelina is a public well being professional. She writes a e-newsletter, “Your Native Epidemiologist.” Thanks very a lot.
JETELINA: Thanks for having me.
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