• 21 people, including 6 children, have fallen ill after consuming raw milk.
• 7 individuals have been hospitalized, with at least two suffering severe complications.
• Florida health officials emphasize the risks associated with raw, unpasteurized milk.
• The FDA and CDC warn of potential life-threatening bacteria in raw milk.

The Florida Department of Health (FDH) has issued a warning regarding the risks associated with consuming raw milk after 21 individuals were reported ill, including six children under the age of 10, due to shiga toxin-producing E. coli and campylobacter bacteria. Among those affected, seven people have been hospitalized, with at least two experiencing severe complications. The FDH has not disclosed the name of the farm where the contaminated milk originated, indicating particular concern over sanitation practices at the facility, according to CBS News and Newsweek.

Florida law prohibits the sale of raw milk for human consumption, yet it can be marketed as pet food, allowing consumers to bypass safety regulations. Keith Schneider, a food safety expert at the University of Florida, criticized this loophole, calling it a "wink, wink, nudge, nudge" approach to regulation. He highlighted the risks associated with raw milk, asserting that illnesses from its consumption are inevitable, not a matter of if but when. Schneider's comments are supported by federal health agencies which have long warned that raw milk is among the "riskiest" foods people can consume due to hazardous bacteria present in unpasteurized milk, according to HuffPost and The Hill.

The FDH has recognized that while many people consume raw milk safely, significant risks persist, especially due to STEC bacteria that can cause severe gastrointestinal illness and complications such as hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), particularly dangerous for children and immunocompromised individuals. Health authorities stress the importance of pasteurization in eliminating harmful bacteria, with the CDC confirming that pasteurized milk delivers the same nutritional benefits as raw milk without the associated health risks, as emphasized in reports from CBS News and Newsweek.

The rising popularity of raw milk consumption has been driven, in part, by social media influencers promoting its purported health benefits, despite the lack of scientific support for such claims. Renowned pediatrician and allergist Dr. Zachary E. Rubin has stated that many of these claims are disinformation. He noted that health issues stemming from raw milk consumption could be attributed to misleading information spread by wellness influencers, which has contributed to the current outbreak in Florida, according to HuffPost and The Hill.