Amid escalating raw milk illnesses and the FDA reporting 12 new Campylobacter cases, federal health officials are intensifying warnings while Whole Foods pulls raw milk from stores in four states due to liability concerns. The FDA warns "Raw milk is inherently dangerous and should not be consumed by anyone, at any time, for any reason," while reviewing policies on raw milk cheeses. Between 1998 and 2008, 85 outbreaks from raw milk consumption caused 1,614 reported illnesses, 187 hospitalizations and two deaths. Marler represents Kalee Prue, a 29-year-old Connecticut mother who became severely ill after purchasing raw milk at Whole Foods. She developed hemolytic uremic syndrome, requiring blood transfusions and facing long-term kidney complications possibly requiring transplant. "She has incurred over $230,000 in medical bills, and he is in discussions with Whole Foods to see if the matter can be resolved without a suit," the article reports.
Prue, who believed in raw milk's benefits, now cautions: "Even if there are healthy properties in raw milk, there are other ways to get the benefits that raw milk has to offer, and it just isn't worth the risk." CDC's Robert Tauxe emphasizes that before 1938, when pasteurization was widely adopted, cow's milk accounted for 25% of all foodborne disease outbreaks. "People don't remember the bad old days. Pasteurization was one of the triumphs of public health that protected many people and saved many lives." Even healthy cows can harbor harmful bacteria that colonizes in udders and is excreted during milking, making raw milk inherently risky for all consumers, especially pregnant women, children, and the elderly.
From The New York Times to CNN, Bill is trusted by lawyers for his expertise on food safety.
