JAMA on Raw Milk
A Vegan Health Article from All-Creatures.org

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From Robert Cohen
http://www.notmilk.com

{THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF THIS COLUMN IS THE CONCLUDING COMMENT.}

The January 30, 2008 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) contains an article regarding raw milk.

Salmonella Typhimurium Infection Associated With Raw Milk and Cheese Consumption—Pennsylvania, 2007

JAMA. 2008;299(4):402-404.

Quotations from this article:

"This report summarizes the findings of that investigation, which determined that 29 cases of diarrheal illness caused by S. Typhimurium were associated with consumption of raw milk or raw-milk products from dairy A."

"In February 2007, PDA estimated that dairy A was selling 200-300 gallons of raw milk weekly to 275 regular customers."

"A total of 29 cases were identified, with illness onset occurring in three temporal clusters during February 3– July 14, 2007. The first cluster consisted of 15 cases with onsets of illness from February 3 to March 5. Raw-milk samples were collected February 20 from a dairy A bulk milk tank and February 28 from the home of an ill person. Both sets of samples yielded the outbreak strain of S. Typhimurium. On March 2, PDA ordered dairy A to stop raw-milk sales."

"On March 19, PDA allowed dairy A to resume sales... ...two additional cases were identified in persons with onsets of illness on March 19 and March 22."

"On March 27, PDA again ordered dairy A to halt raw-milk sales and suspended its raw-milk permit. No additional cases were noted until June-July 2007, when a third cluster of 11 PFGE-matched S. Typhimurium cases was detected through routine electronic laboratory reporting. On July 19, PDA confirmed that dairy A had been distributing raw milk to the public despite its suspended permit."

"Among the 29 persons identified with diarrheal illness and PFGE-matched S. Typhimurim, 17 (59%) were male, and the median age was 6 years."

"Raw milk is a well-documented source of infections from Salmonella, Escherichia coli O157:H7, Campylobacter, Listeria, Mycobacterium bovis, and other pathogens."

"Pathogens that infect humans are shed in the feces of cows, can be present in or on the udders of cows, and can contaminate their milk."

Of the 8 quotations, the one having the most meaning to me is this one:

"...and the median age was 6 years."

Consider the reality of raw milk infections when attempting to enact a law to approve the transportation of raw milk over state lines (as congressman Ron Paul suggests we do) by rationalizing an individual's constitutional right to life and liberty. The victims are not the purchasers. The victims are the children.

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We began this archive as a means of assisting our visitors in answering many of their health and diet questions, and in encouraging them to take a pro-active part in their own health. We believe the articles and information contained herein are true, but are not presenting them as advice. We, personally, have found that a whole food vegan diet has helped our own health, and simply wish to share with others the things we have found. Each of us must make our own decisions, for it's our own body. If you have a health problem, see your own physician.