The health risks of consuming uncooked raw milk are often underestimated

The health risks of consuming uncooked raw milk are often underestimated

What it's about:

Raw milk (untreated milk) enjoys some popularity, but poses health risks. To avoid food poisoning, it should be boiled before drinking. But how well is raw milk actually known among the population? How do people perceive the health risk? Two thirds of those surveyed had already heard of raw milk. Only ten percent expressed concerns, making raw milk the least worrying topic of the risks surveyed. This emerges from the BfR consumer monitor, a regularly conducted representative survey by the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR).). “The health risks of raw milk are underestimated,” explains the BfRPresident Professor Andreas Hensel. "It can transmit pathogens. Particularly sensitive population groups such as children, pregnant women, the elderly and the sick should generally avoid uncooked raw milk." However, even in healthy adults, there is an increased risk of mild to severe food poisoning when consuming uncooked raw milk, depending on the pathogen. Raw milk was an issue for the BfR, as were approved food colorings and mercury in fishConsumer Monitor for the first time.

“What do you think are the biggest health risks in everyday life, for example in relation to food, personal care products, clothing or toys?” Public opinion is unanimous on this open question. Undesirable substances (such as “chemicals” or “pollutants” with a share of 41 percent of the answers) are usually mentioned most frequently. This is followed by plastics (17 percent), food additives (10 percent), certain nutrients such as fat, sugar or salt (10 percent) and unhealthy diets and lifestyles (10 percent).

“How concerned are you personally about the following consumer health issues?” Among the predefined answer options, the topic of “microplastics in food” comes first (67 percent very concerned, 15 percent moderately concerned), followed by “antibiotic resistance” (63 percent and 15 percent) and “pesticide residues in food” (50 percent and 20 percent). Here too, the views of those surveyed remain largely unchanged.

In addition, the current survey asked for the first time about overconsumption and not about insufficient intake of vitamins and minerals. The latest data shows that 26 percent of respondents feel well-informed about excessive intake of vitamins and minerals, while in the previous survey 37 percent of respondents felt well-informed about inadequate intake.

Questions and answers about raw milk on the BfR website:

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