As Republicans push to legalize raw milk, an outbreak in Idaho offers a reality check

The conservative legislative push to legalize unpasteurized (raw) milk is facing a reality check in Idaho, where state health officials are investigating a sudden spike of nearly 60 illnesses linked to unpasteurized dairy.

In a news release published last Wednesday, the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare (DHW) announced that they are investigating a spike in illnesses after they confirmed that nearly 60 people had gotten sick after consuming raw milk since May 19. The illnesses include 45 positive tests for campylobacteriosis, a severe bacterial infection that can cause bloody diarrhea, abdominal pain, fever and nausea.

DHW also said that not everyone who is sick has been tested and that more illnesses could be identified. According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), raw milk can be easily contaminated with harmful pathogens, including Campylobacter, Salmonella, E. coli and Listeria. The DHW said unpasteurized dairy products pose a particular risk for young children, pregnant women, the elderly and anyone who is immunocompromised. These pathogens are eliminated through pasteurization, which involves heating milk to a certain temperature.

Despite significant health risks, many states have been introducing bills to legalize and/or deregulate the sale of raw milk directly to consumers. These bills have become law in states like Idaho, Arkansas and North Dakota. Proponents say that the pasteurization process ruins the nutritional value of dairy products like milk, which has been debunked by numerous institutions and public health agencies. In a fact-check published by the American Academy of Pediatrics last year, pediatric infectious disease specialist Robert Frenck said raw milk poses “unnecessary health risks.”

“Pasteurized milk provides all the nutritional benefits of milk while eliminating harmful bacteria that can cause severe illness, particularly in young children,” Frenck said. “Raw milk, on the other hand, poses unnecessary health risks and has been linked to serious infections and hospitalizations.”

Pro-raw milk bills have also recently been introduced in states like Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas and Missouri. Many states currently only allow raw milk to be sold to consumers on the farm on which the products are produced. Other states like Pennsylvania, Utah, Idaho and California allow retail stores to sell raw milk products, with varying degrees of regulations.