New warning of gastrointestinal germs in raw milk

Gastrointestinal infections through raw milk: Minister warns to boil off
Fresh milk from the farm is growing in popularity, often it can be tapped directly from a raw milk dispenser. The untreated milk should always be boiled before drinking, warns Thuringian health minister Heike Werner (left). Otherwise it can lead to serious illnesses.

Can milk harm your health?
Is milk healthy or harmful? This question has been a hot topic for years. Although milk has long been considered a healthy food, studies have repeatedly surfaced indicating that the drink may benefit from conditions such as asthma or diabetes.

Other research came to the conclusion that milk is healthy. It provides calcium, fat and protein, and vitamins in smaller quantities. However, you should be careful with raw milk.

In rural areas, you can often buy fresh milk directly from the farmer or even tap in a milk filling station. However, you should definitely boil the raw food before eating it, otherwise you may face illnesses such as gastrointestinal infections. (Image: Kzenon / fotolia.com)

Always boil raw milk before consumption
In Thuringia, for example, six people have already had gastrointestinal infections through raw milk this year, reports the dpa news agency. Health Minister Heike Werner (left) warns therefore, always boil such untreated milk before drinking.

"Raw milk can even with the best hygiene and cooling contain pathogens that can cause serious illness, especially in children, elderly and immunocompromised people," said Werner on dpa request.

Consumption of untreated milk can make you sick
The Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) also recently issued a statement stating that the consumption of untreated milk can lead to serious illnesses. The experts also advise consumers to cook raw milk before eating it.

"The BfR also advises against the preparation and consumption of non-heated (" cold ") cocoa drinks or other milk-based drinks (milkshakes) made from raw milk either directly on site or at home," the statement says.

Raw milk from the machine
Raw milk can often be bought directly on the farm or can be bottled in rural regions at so-called milk filling stations. The Bauernverband Landvolk Niedersachsen explains on its website: "The raw milk may only be delivered on the day of the harvest and on the following day. A continuous cooling must be ensured. "(Ad)