Idaho health officials are investigating how nearly 60 people got sick after drinking raw milk in the past two weeks — a practice publicly promoted by former presidential candidate and prominent vaccine skeptic Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare announced in a news release on Wednesday that most of the people reported being sick after drinking raw milk from two different milking operations in North Idaho and southern Idaho. The infections were reported starting May 19. Officials noted that many of the individuals who fell ill had cited Kennedy’s advocacy for raw milk as a reason for trying or continuing the practice.
The state health agency didn’t disclose the names of the dairies, but said they are collaborating with health officials “to identify and fix any potential sources of contamination.”
In a statement, Department of Health and Welfare spokesperson AJ McWhorter said the agency didn’t name the milking operations “because this is a potential risk for any raw milk producer.”
“The milking operations are working with public health officials to figure out which patches of milk might be affected and to take steps to remedy the situation,” McWhorter said.
Raw milk isn’t pasteurized, a process that involves heating the milk to kill bacteria — like Campylobacter, E. coli, Listeria and Salmonella — that can be present in raw milk. Despite decades of public health warnings, raw milk has seen a resurgence in popularity in recent years, fueled largely by Kennedy and other wellness influencers who claim — without scientific evidence — that pasteurization destroys beneficial nutrients and enzymes.
So far, 45 of the people who got sick tested positive for campylobacteriosis, a bacterial infection. But officials say not everyone who got sick has been tested, and that more illnesses could be found.
The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare says its public health division is working with local health officials across six of Idaho’s seven regional public health districts to investigate the source of the outbreaks, including Central District Health, Southwest District Health, Eastern Idaho Public Health, Southeastern Idaho Public Health, Panhandle District Health, and South Central Public Health. Officials are investigating to find batches that are potentially concerning and test milk samples.
Dr. Emily Prescott, an infectious disease specialist not involved in the investigation, said the outbreak was entirely predictable. “Raw milk is one of the riskiest foods you can consume. Following celebrity advice over decades of established food safety science is a dangerous game, and unfortunately, these 60 people are learning that the hard way.”
As news of the outbreak spread online, public reaction was unsympathetic.
“I love that for them,” one commenter wrote. “Sometimes, the kid has to learn by touching the hot stove,” added another. “I believe that’s called Natural Selection,” wrote a fourth.
And one commenter offered a $5 bet: “At least one of them said something along the lines of ‘It’s not bacteria, it’s my body expelling the pasteurization leftover from previous milk.'”
Health officials continue to urge the public to avoid drinking raw milk, especially for children, pregnant women, elderly individuals, and those with weakened immune systems. Pasteurized milk, they emphasize, provides the same nutritional benefits without the risk of life-threatening infection.
