Reminder: Raw milk can make you seriously ill

A recent notice by Health Canada is prompting Health & Safety Watch to remind Canadians that drinking raw (unpasteurized) milk can make you seriously ill.


Several different diseases can be found in raw milk including: Salmonella, E. coli and Listeria. These bacteria can result in everything from fever, vomiting and diarrhea to life-threatening kidney failure, miscarriage and death. Children, pregnant women, older adults and people with a weakened immune system are particularly at risk.
Food and Drug Regulations require that all milk available for sale in Canada be pasteurized. Pasteurization kills the organisms that may cause disease while keeping the nutritional properties of milk intact. Raw milk has not been treated to make it safe. It also is not fortified with vitamin D.

Although these regulations are in place, some Canadians prefer and continue to drink raw milk because of perceived health benefits. However, any possible benefits are far outweighed by the serious risk of illness from drinking raw milk.
For additional information, including a tip sheet and food safety education documents, please visit Healthandsafetywatch.com.