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A cold glass of milk goes great with a lot of foods.
Milk and milk products have a lot of vitamins and
calcium, but it's important to buy only those products
made with pasteurized milk.
Why pasteurized?
Because unpasteurized-or "raw"---milk from cows,
sheep, goats or other animals can carry bacteria
that can make you sick, like Salmonella, E.coli,
Campylobacter and Listeria.
Pasteurization heats milk to a high temperature for a
short period of time, which kills disease-causing
bacteria.
These harmful bacteria usually don't change the
look, taste, or smell of milk.
You can only be sure that they're not in your milk if
it's been pasteurized.
Some people believe that raw milk is more nutritious and
more easily digested.
Or they believe that pasteurized milk creates
problems like lactose intolerance.
Many studies have shown, however,
that pasteurization does not significantly change the
nutritional value of dairy products nor does it cause
lactose intolerance or allergic reactions.
And, you could be endangering your health if
you drink raw milk.
How do we know?
Because hundreds of people have gotten sick from
drinking raw milk over the past decade. Getting sick
from raw milk can mean many days of diarrhea,
stomach cramping, and vomiting.
Sometimes, it can also lead to kidney and liver disease,
paralysis, chronic disorders, and even death.
Raw milk can be especially dangerous for infants and
young children, the elderly and people with weakened
immune systems.
If you are pregnant, drinking raw milk - or
eating foods made from raw milk,
such as soft cheeses - can lead to miscarriage or
stillbirth.
But, it's important to remember that healthy people
of any age can get very sick or even die if they drink
contaminated raw milk.
How can you avoid raw milk and milk products?
Look for the word "pasteurized" on the label.
If it's not there, you may be looking at a product that
contains raw milk.
If you're not sure, ask your grocer or store clerk.
And when buying milk or milk products at a farm stand or
local market, make sure to ask whether it's been
pasteurized.
Keeping this information in mind will help keep you and
you family safe from harmful bacteria that can be in
unpasteurized milk and milk products.
For more information on food safety,
visit: www.fda.gov/food and www.foodsafety.gov