Is it safe for pregnant women to consume unpasteurized milk?
Untreated raw milk with its alleged "full-bodied and aromatic" taste is gaining popularity among some individuals, who recommend pregnant women to consume it for their child's health. However, experts highly discourage this.
With raw milk, there's no heat treatment nor stringent microbial control. Consequently, any microorganisms present aren't killed off, allowing them to multiply in the raw milk. Since the 19th century, pasteurization has been employed to eliminate these microbes. A process that heats milk to 72 degrees Celsius for 15 seconds.
Pasteurization was initially meant to protect humans from diseases like tuberculosis, which can be spread through milk. But the heat treatment can serve another purpose now: it may shield us from the H5N1 bird flu virus. This current global outbreak infects birds and mammals, and has recently reached dairy cows in the U.S. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends consuming only products made from pasteurized milk to avoid contracting the virus.
Untreated milk can also harbor numerous pathogens like salmonella, listeria, EHEC, and campylobacter, that cause severe infectious diseases. These pathogens pose significant risks to certain groups, including small children, the elderly, and immunocompromised individuals. Particularly vulnerable are pregnant women, as their immune systems become weaker, making them prone to infections that can harm both the mother and the fetus.
The German Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety (BVL) found potentially dangerous germs in about 5% of the 360 raw milk samples they tested a few years back. Around 10% contained multi-resistant bacteria. Ingesting these can lead to acute intestinal inflammation or other complications.
Mother and child's wellbeing should be the main priority during pregnancy. "Healthy into Life" network, an initiative supported by the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture, advises expecting mothers to stray clear of raw animal foods, including those made from unpasteurized milk, raw meat, or fish. The Baden-Württemberg State Center for Nutrition echoes this statement by saying, "Raw milk products - not for pregnant women."
Consumer safety in supermarkets is guaranteed since the milk sold there is usually heat-treated before sale. But if one purchases raw milk from a local supplier, it's prudent to boil it at home to minimize the risk of contracting any pathogens. The Lower Saxony Consumer Center offers instructions: "Heat the milk to a temperature of at least 72 degrees Celsius for 20 to 30 seconds. When the milk starts bubbling and frothing, remove it from the heat." This small yet crucial precaution can protect pregnant women and their developing babies.
Read also:
- This will change in December
- Dikes withstand water masses so far - Scholz holds out the prospect of help
- Fireworks and parties ring in 2024 - turn of the year overshadowed by conflicts
- Attacks on ships in the Red Sea: shipping companies avoid important trade route
Source: www.ntv.de
