Raw milk can be safe — but it depends on something in short supply Namely, trust between health officials, consumers, and producers

https://www.statnews.com/2025/01/14/raw-milk-safety-h5n1-avian-flu-state-regulation/?utm_campaign=morning_rounds&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_KnnU5acs7YfqG3sPoafKmNkG2yJYIj1iaQzOp3QPWGZWL8ZxKz_wXEihwauNF55j7SnI3_8PbeuuGtC6T_aponcLpFw&_hsmi=342354081&utm_content=342354081&utm_source=hs_email Scientists have always cautioned against drinking raw milk. But as bird flu began circulating in dairy cows across the country last spring, the warnings became more vehement. By the fall, the virus was found in commercially available raw milk. The exact health risks of drinking this milk are unknown, but recent research supports the fear that it may be dangerous. I was surprised, then, to read a First Opinion essay published today by audio documentarian Bianca Garcia, who argues that raw milk as a product isn’t inherently dangerous with the appropriate management. Garcia has been reporting on raw milk for months, and points to South Carolina as an example of a state with vigorous regulations around testing and sanitation for the raw milk market. It’s a provocative idea, but Garcia comes with evidence for a sort of harm reduction approach. https://www.statnews.com/2024/11/24/bird-flu-h5n1-raw-milk-llc-california-virus-testing/?utm_campaign=morning_rounds&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9FbDsF5yru9RNu5MGH2Bi2cJOhonmtpBaWqALTO_SaUH1R3YmPWF_EFyJC8Pnd7XCyHqsXqN4wcewpTCUaJxtDyz_AsQ&_hsmi=342354081&utm_content=342354081&utm_source=hs_email