Raw Milk Reckoning
Florida's outbreak and the Pasteurization Debate
Twenty‑one people are sick. Six of them are children. Seven are hospitalized. Two may have kidney failure. The common thread? Raw milk sold under a loophole that pretends it’s for pets—but ends up in your kid’s cereal bowl.
What Everyone Needs to Know
Florida is dealing with yet another raw milk outbreak, and this one is ugly:
21 confirmed illnesses so far.
Six children under 10 are among the sick.
Seven hospitalized, including two with suspected hemolytic‑uremic syndrome (HUS)—a life‑threatening complication of E. coli that can destroy kidneys.
The source: raw, unpasteurized milk sold as “pet food.” That’s the loophole in Florida’s law: raw milk for human consumption is banned, but slap “for pets” on the label and suddenly regulators back off.
Everyone knows it isn’t going in a cat bowl. And every time, public health pays the price.
Why Raw Milk Is Risky
Raw milk is milk that hasn’t been pasteurized—heated briefly to kill harmful bacteria. That heat treatment wiped out tuberculosis, typhoid, brucellosis, and diphtheria from dairy over a century ago.
The bacteria we’re dealing with in this outbreak are just as dangerous:
Shiga‑toxin–producing E. coli (STEC): Causes severe bloody diarrhea and can lead to HUS. Particularly dangerous in children.
Campylobacter jejuni: Another frequent raw milk contaminant, leading to bloody diarrhea and sometimes Guillain‑Barré syndrome—a nerve condition that can cause paralysis.
The infectious dose? Sometimes just 10–100 bacteria.
But Raw Milk Is “Natural,” Right?
Yes—so is botulism.
Pasteurization doesn’t destroy nutrients. It doesn’t “kill good bacteria.” And if you want probiotics? Eat yogurt or kefir. Don’t gamble your kidneys on raw cow juice.
Influencer Hype: Paul Saladino
Enter Paul Saladino, better known online as the “Carnivore MD.” He’s one of the loudest voices pushing raw milk, along with liver smoothies and other fringe health claims. And you saw him chugging raw milk with RFK Jr.
Saladino’s argument: raw milk is “ancestral,” nutrient‑dense, and probiotic. Reality: his advice ignores a century of data and a mountain of outbreaks.
When Florida kids are in intensive care, influencer wellness tips aren’t quirky—they’re dangerous. And following them can have lifelong consequences.
Why People Still Drink Raw Milk
Nostalgia: “Grandpa drank raw milk and lived to 95!” (He also didn’t have antibiotics or seatbelts—want to bring those back?)
Misinformation: Wellness influencers calling it “immune‑boosting” and “cleaner” than pasteurized milk.
Loopholes: States like Florida ban raw milk for humans but allow “pet food” sales—creating regulatory theater where everyone pretends cats are chugging milkshakes.
Want the full breakdown?
Detailed timeline of the Florida outbreak
What these pathogens do inside your body
Clinical signs to watch for in kids and adults
Why Florida’s loophole persists—and how other states handle raw milk
Practical advice for clinicians and families
How this fits into the broader fight against foodborne misinformation
Upgrade to a paid subscription at drsimpson.com for the deep dive and direct access to my subscriber chat, where I answer your questions personally.