RAW MILK MADNESS: Unqualified Social Media Influencers Peddle DEADLY Dairy Delusions, Experts Warn of Devastating Consequences
- Raw milk advocates claim it’s a health food, but experts say it’s a ticking time bomb of deadly bacteria and misinformation
- 21 people fell sick and 7 were hospitalised in the US after drinking raw milk from a farm with “concerning sanitation practices”
- A coroner found raw milk the “likely” cause of the death of a 3-year-old boy in Victoria, despite advocates contesting the finding
In a shocking development, unqualified social media influencers are promoting the consumption of raw milk, ignoring the deadly risks of harmful pathogens and undermining years of scientific research. The illegal sale of raw or unpasteurised milk for human consumption in Australia is a significant concern, with experts warning of devastating consequences.
The promotion of raw milk on social media is not only misleading but also dangerous, as it may contain harmful bacteria like E.coli, salmonella, and listeria. In the US, 21 people fell sick and 7 were hospitalised after consuming raw milk from a farm with “concerning sanitation practices”. In Australia, a coroner found raw milk the “likely” cause of the death of a 3-year-old boy in Victoria, although raw milk advocates contest the finding.
Adam Strupek, a Brisbane-based holistic health and wellness advocate, purchases “bath milk” and consumes it, despite the risks. He claims that pasteurisation reduces nutrients, but Deakin University lecturer Emily Denniss disagrees. Dr Denniss specialises in public health nutrition and is concerned about the broader public health implications of diet trends and misinformation being shared on social media.
“It’s part of a bigger, more worrying trend of wellness influencers and other voices on social media thinking they have the credibility and authority to be undermining years of scientific research,” Dr Denniss said. “Misinformation and conspiracy theories can really undermine the public’s trust in credible voices.”
CSIRO food microbiologist Cathy McAuley is dismayed by the raw milk trend, stating that diseases can be passed on through the cow, but also the environment in which the milk was obtained, making pasteurisation essential. Stuart Johnson, a WA-based board member of the Dairy Industry Association of Australia, believes farmers can make profits in less dangerous ways and questions the morality of selling bath milk.
“They think they could sell it for a premium price, and I always say to them, ‘Do you want to be the one to meet the mother of the child who fell sick, or worse?'” Mr Johnson said.
WA Farmers Federation president Steve McGuire reassured that WA dairy farmers produce milk to the highest quality and hygiene standards, pasteurised to ensure it’s safe to drink. As the promotion of raw milk continues to spread online, experts warn of devastating consequences and urge consumers to be cautious of misinformation peddled by unqualified social media influencers.