What is this study about?
- This study reviewed outbreaks caused raw milk–milk that has not been pasteurized to kill disease-causing germs –in the United States that were reported to CDC from 2007-2012.
- The study analyzed the number of outbreaks, the legal status of raw milk sales in each state, and the number of illnesses, hospitalizations, and deaths associated with these outbreaks.
What did the study show?
The number of outbreaks caused by raw milk has increased.
- From 2007-2012, 26 states reported 81 outbreaks caused by raw milk to CDC. These outbreaks caused 979 illnesses and 73 hospitalizations.
- From 2007-2009, 30 outbreaks were linked to raw milk. This increased to 51 outbreaks from 2010-2012.
- Among outbreaks in which the food causing the outbreak was identified, the percentage caused by raw milk increased from 2% in 2007-2009 to 5% in 2010-2012.
- Three germs caused most raw milk outbreaks from 2007-2012:
- Campylobactercaused 81% of outbreaks. The number of Campylobacter infections from raw milk nearly doubled in the 6-year period.
- Shiga toxin-producing E. coli caused 17% of outbreaks.
- Salmonella caused 3% of outbreaks.
- The average number of outbreaks caused by raw milk each year was 4 times higher from 2007-2012 than from 1993-2006.
FoodWorld 
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