Unpasteurized milk : a growing public health issue / by Stacey Pettigrew.

The sale and distribution of unpasteurized/raw milk is illegal in Canada. Canadian federal and
\nprovincial legislation prohibit the sale and distribution of raw milk based on scientific evidence
\nthat unpasteurized milk poses a human health risk. The official position of the Canadian
\ngovernment is supported by domestic and foreign government agencies, public health
\nprofessionals, and faculty at post-secondary educational institutions as well as physicians and
\nveterinarian. The arguments made by groups that support pasteurization are further bolstered by
\nstudies published in peer-reviewed journals which cite epidemiological evidence and laboratory
\nfindings that unpasteurized milk is a vehicle for food-borne illness.
\nSome Canadian milk producers have found means of circumventing and contravening the
\ncurrent legislation in order to meet an increasing public demand for raw milk. Groups supporting
\nconsumption of unpasteurized milk often reinforce the statements made by other raw milk
\nadvocates; however their claims surrounding the purported benefits of unpasteurized milk and
\nthe alleged dangers of pasteurization have not been scientifically proven. Furthermore, the claims
\nmade by raw milk advocates are often contradicted by information provided by the previously
\nmentioned groups who warn against the consumption of raw milk. Based on the credentials of
\nthe authors, and the scientific evidence provided to support their claims, the author has
\nconcluded that the argument supporting pasteurization and the ongoing ban on the sale and
\ndistribution of unpasteurized milk is the more persuasive.
\nRaw milk advocates argue that it is the right of the individual to decide what they
\nconsume in their quest for maintaining and improving their health and that the government does
\nnot have the right to infringe upon the private affairs of citizens. Autonomy is the basis for western culture, and an integral component of a democratic society, however, autonomy must be
\nexercised within the parameters of the law.
\nMany other countries support Canada?s position and have also made the sale and
\ndistribution of unpasteurized milk illegal due to the potential for the product to carry pathogenic
\norganisms. Some countries however, have legalized the sale and distribution of unpasteurized
\nmilk. These countries have implemented restrictions and precautions as a means of balancing the
\nconsumer?s right to choose what they consume with reduction of the risk that consumption of the
\nproduct poses.
\nEven though the claims made by raw milk advocates regarding the superiority of
\nunpasteurized milk have not been scientifically proven, recent scientific studies have identified
\nthat early consumption of unpasteurized farm milk may reduce a child?s risk of developing
\nallergic disorders. Increased research is needed in order to determine what components of raw
\nmilk provide a protective effect on the development of allergic disorders in farm children. Once
\nthese components are identified, further research is needed in order to determine how to preserve
\nthese factors, while maintaining a pathogen-free product. While this research is being conducted,
\npublic health efforts should focus on the development and delivery of targeted educational
\ncampaigns that better inform farmers and the public of the risks of consuming raw milk and the
\nscientific evidence surrounding pasteurized and unpasteurized milk.

Fetched live from OpenAlex and de-inverted. Abstracts are not stored in this database: the inverted indexes are 8.6 GB of the frame’s 9.3 GB of text, and the host has 13 GB free.