Florida Woman Sues Dairy After Raw Milk Illness Linked to Miscarriage; Surgeon General's Stance Questioned

Tallahassee, FL – A Florida woman has initiated a lawsuit against a local dairy farm following a severe illness contracted by her toddler from raw milk, which she alleges resulted in her own subsequent illness and a tragic miscarriage at 20 weeks. The incident has drawn attention to the ongoing debate surrounding raw milk consumption in the state. According to reports, the toddler experienced severe symptoms including diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, fever, abdominal pain, chills, and dehydration, requiring three hospital visits within a month. The mother, who cared for her sick child, subsequently contracted Campylobacter bacteria, which she believes was transmitted while cleaning up after her toddler. Adding to the controversy, Florida’s Surgeon General, Joseph A. Ladapo, has publicly expressed support for individuals choosing to consume raw milk, stating that Floridians have the freedom to make informed health choices. This stance has been met with criticism from public health experts, who argue it contradicts standard public health messaging during outbreaks. Federal and state health agencies, including the FDA and the Florida Department of Health, consistently warn against raw milk consumption due to the risk of disease-causing pathogens like E. coli, Listeria, and Salmonella. They assert that raw milk offers no proven nutritional or health benefits over pasteurized milk. The Florida Department of Health’s own website, while noting reported benefits, also clearly outlines the significant risks.

Green Matters

A Florida Mom Is Suing a Dairy Farm After She Consumed Raw Milk, Killing Her Un…

Consuming any milk from an animal is unethical. Consuming raw dairy milk can have immense further health consequences.