According to Florida Department of Health authorities, seven persons have been hospitalized and 21 cases of Campylobacter and E. coli illnesses linked to raw milk intake have been reported in the central and northeast regions of the state as of Monday.
Although it did not provide the name or location, the agency said that the contaminated milk was connected to a specific farm.
According to the DOH’s Monday report, the number of instances raised concerns about the farm’s sanitation methods.
At least two of the 21 cases have been reported to have serious problems. Children under the age of ten were reported to have six of the cases.
Raw milk does not undergo pasteurization, a heating process that eliminates pathogens, and instead comes straight from the cow, sheep, goat, or other animal. As a result, raw milk may include salmonella, listeria, Escherichia coli (E. coli), and campylobacter, which can result in gastrointestinal disorders such cramping, vomiting, and diarrhea.
According to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, these viruses are more likely to cause serious illness in pregnant women, individuals over 65, children under five, and those with compromised immune systems.
The Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services regulates the sale of raw milk in Florida for non-human use as pet or animal feed. According to Florida law, raw milk containers must prominently designate themselves as being intended solely for animal consumption.
Under the leadership of Dr. Joseph Ladapo, the DOH did not advise against consuming raw milk.
According to the alert, if Floridians decide to drink raw milk, they should utilize this information to make educated choices regarding their health and the sources of the milk.
In 2021, Ladapo, a former faculty member at the University of California in Los Angeles’ medical school, was appointed by Governor Ron DeSantis to lead the DOH. Ladapo also has a seat at the University of Florida, while the agency secretary simultaneously serves as the state surgeon general.
Ladapo has voiced strong doubts about the effectiveness of face masks in reducing viral exposure and the Covid-19 vaccination during his tenure in the DeSantis administration. In 2021, he made national news when he refused to wear a mask when state senator Tina Polsky, who was undergoing cancer treatment, asked him to do so. Ladapo was being considered for Senate confirmation at the time.
Last year, during a measles outbreak in Broward County, Ladapo told parents that it was their responsibility to determine whether to keep their kids at home. This went against the CDC’s advice to keep unvaccinated kids at home. Additionally, Ladapo’s organization was responsible for sending warning letters to television stations running advertisements supporting the passing of Amendment 4, the bill that would have guaranteed access to abortion, before to the general election in 2024.
