The Truth About Raw Milk and Bird Flu: Debunking Misinformation and Understanding the Facts.

In the world of food safety, few topics spark as much debate as the question of raw milk versus pasteurized milk. For decades, raw milk has been vilified as a dangerous product, largely due to sensationalist stories and misleading claims.

Today, let’s dive into the murky history and current controversies surrounding raw milk to shed light on the truth.

It all began back in 1945 with a magazine article that stirred up quite a storm. Coronet published a piece titled “Raw Milk Can Kill You,” which told a harrowing tale of an outbreak of brucellosis in a fictional town called Crossroads, U.S.A. According to the article, this outbreak led to the deaths of one-third of the town’s residents. The story was picked up a year later by Reader’s Digest and widely circulated, creating a lasting fear of raw milk. The only problem? Crossroads wasn’t a real town, and there was no outbreak. It was all a fabrication designed to push a particular agenda.

The damage was done. The fictitious Crossroads story set the stage for laws against raw milk, starting with Michigan in 1948. These laws restricted the sale of raw milk, ushering in an era where pasteurization became the gold standard. But this wasn't the end of the story.

Misinformation and fear-mongering about raw milk continued to proliferate. Fast forward to 2007, and we find another example of questionable claims against raw milk. John F. Sheehan, a figure from the FDA’s Center for Food Safety & Applied Nutrition, prepared a presentation maligning raw milk, which was shown at a national conference. Sheehan cited fifteen reports of foodborne illness outbreaks associated with raw milk.

However, a closer look reveals that many of these reports were flawed. In some cases, the studies provided no evidence of raw milk consumption, and in others, the outbreaks didn’t even exist. Most importantly, none of the studies showed that pasteurization would have prevented the outbreaks. In essence, the FDA’s own data didn’t support the claims being made.

Now, let’s turn to the present day and examine the recent controversy surrounding bird flu and dairy cows. On March 25, 2024, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), along with state officials, announced an investigation into an illness affecting dairy cows in Texas, Kansas, and New Mexico. The agencies claimed that samples of unpasteurized milk from sick cows tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) and warned against drinking raw milk.

However, the details of this claim raise red flags. According to the press release, while HPAI was allegedly found in the milk, there was no actual evidence of the virus being isolated from the milk or any other secretions of the sick cows. In fact, repeated requests for proof of the isolated virus have gone unanswered. The CDC, as well as health and agriculture agencies from other countries, have not provided evidence of isolating avian influenza virus from animal fluids.

The first major issue with this claim is the lack of proof. The agencies have not demonstrated that the HPAI virus was actually found in the milk. The second problem is related to the testing methods used. It’s likely that the tests employed were PCR (polymerase chain reaction) tests, which are designed to detect and amplify genetic material, not diagnose disease. PCR tests can be manipulated to produce positive results by amplifying genetic material many times, which may not accurately reflect the presence of an actual pathogen.

The claim that HPAI is highly pathogenic and can be transmitted through raw milk is questionable. The Wall Street Journal reported that only one person working with the affected dairy cows developed symptoms, which were mild and could be attributed to other causes, such as exposure to toxins in the confinement dairies. The CDC’s own information suggests that HPAI in humans ranges from mild to severe, but severe cases have not been widely reported among those exposed to the sick cows.

There is no robust scientific evidence supporting the notion that HPAI can be transmitted through raw milk. Medical biologist Peg Coleman has pointed out that recent risk communications from the CDC, FDA, and USDA regarding HPAI transmission through raw milk lack supporting evidence. She emphasizes that many bioactive components in raw milk, which are sensitive to heat, may actually be beneficial and help in fighting pathogens. Raw milk from healthy cows, according to the scientific literature, is not inherently dangerous, and pasteurization alone does not guarantee safety.

This brings us to an important point: the ongoing battle between raw milk advocates and those promoting pasteurization. Raw milk drinkers have long been skeptical of government pronouncements, and the latest bird flu scare has only fueled their doubts. Sales of raw milk are reportedly booming as more people question the official narratives and seek alternatives to industrial pasteurized milk.

To sum up, the history of raw milk and the current controversy over HPAI highlights a troubling pattern of misinformation and questionable science. From the fabricated Crossroads story to the dubious claims about bird flu, the evidence suggests that many of the fears surrounding raw milk are based on distortions and lack scientific support. It’s crucial for consumers to approach such claims with a critical eye and seek out reliable, evidence-based information.

Consider reaching out to the USDA, FDA, and CDC to request proof of their claims and ask for transparency regarding the testing methods used. By staying informed and questioning dubious claims, we can better navigate the complex world of food safety and make choices that are based on sound science rather than sensationalist headlines.

Sources and other reliable information.

Real Milk - Very detailed article. 

This source of information below is a list of lies or propaganda pushed. These people need terminated via our own "We The People" style of getting rid of domestic threats.

In 2007, John F. Sheehan, a BSc (Dy) and JD with the US Food & Drug Administration's Center for Food Safety & Applied Nutrition (USFDA/CFSAN) and Division of Dairy and Egg Safety, created a PowerPoint presentation criticizing raw milk. This presentation was then delivered by Cindy Leonard, MS, at the 2005 National Conference on Interstate Milk Shipments (NCIMS). << Lies

More lies they told are found at Real Milk.