The Florida Department of Health on Monday confirmed 21 infections of Shiga toxin–producing E. coli and Campylobacter linked to the consumption of unpasteurized milk from a single farm in northeast and central Florida. Six of the patients are younger than 10 years old; seven people have been hospitalized and two have developed life-threatening complications, the agency said. Investigators have not identified the farm publicly but described its sanitation practices as “of particular concern.” Raw milk cannot legally be sold for human consumption in Florida, yet it may be marketed as animal feed, creating a loophole that allows residents to buy it for themselves. Health officials urged consumers to choose pasteurized products while the inquiry continues. Federal agencies have long warned against drinking raw milk because of bacterial contamination risks and, more recently, concerns tied to the ongoing H5N1 bird-flu outbreak in U.S. dairy cattle. Interest in unpasteurized milk has nevertheless grown, encouraged by wellness influencers and supporters such as U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Interstate retail remains banned under a 1987 Food and Drug Administration rule, but state regulations vary widely.
Florida reports 21 cases of E.coli infections linked to raw milk https://t.co/Gt8D4T4Je8 https://t.co/Gt8D4T4Je8
🦠 Los estados de Florida y Louisiana, ambos en el sureste de Estados Unidos, han sido los más afectados por la bacteria 'Vibrio vulnificus' https://t.co/cDG0urgwa0
Un brote de E. coli y Campylobacter vinculado al consumo de leche cruda ya deja 21 enfermos en Florida. Influencers la promueven, pero las autoridades lanzan advertencia. https://t.co/REfcVSsH8B