State health officials have not named the farm but said the infections are concentrated in northeast and central Florida. They also flagged “sanitation practices at this farm” as a concern, citing the number of cases.
Federal health agencies, including the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, warn that raw, or unpasteurized, milk is one of the riskiest foods to consume because it can contain bacteria such as E. coli, Salmonella, Listeria, and Campylobacter.
These pathogens can trigger severe gastrointestinal illness and, in vulnerable groups such as children, the elderly, and pregnant women, potentially life‑threatening complications.
“We invented pasteurization for a reason,” said Keith Schneider, a food safety professor at the University of Florida. “It’s maddening that this is happening.”
In Florida, selling raw milk for human consumption is illegal. However, the state does allow raw milk to be sold for animal consumption. According to Schneiger, farmers and retailers often label it as “pet milk” to get around the law.
The group points to its content of live enzymes, probiotics, and bioavailable vitamins and minerals, comparing it in some ways to breastmilk. Advocates also say many people who are lactose intolerant tolerate raw milk better because it can encourage production of the lactase enzyme in the gut.
“Not all raw milk is the same,” the institute notes on its website, emphasizing that milk produced under strict sanitary standards and frequent testing is less likely to carry pathogens than milk from conventional operations.
Roughly 20 other states allow only on‑farm sales, and about a dozen states permit “cow‑share” or herd‑share programs, in which customers buy partial ownership of a cow or herd to obtain milk. Around 20 states, including Florida, New Jersey, and Georgia, ban all raw milk sales for human consumption.
State health authorities are urging residents to avoid raw milk from unverified sources, and anyone experiencing symptoms such as diarrhea, abdominal cramps, or fever should seek medical attention immediately.