While the CDC's numbers tell a stark story—over 2,600 confirmed illnesses from just over 200 raw milk outbreaks in two decades—the real weight of that data lies in the individual outbreaks that have sickened hundreds, hospitalized children, and tragically led to deaths.
Key Takeaways
- In 1986, a raw milk outbreak in New Mexico linked to Campylobacter jejuni affected 105 people with symptoms including diarrhea and fever
- Between 1998 and 2018, the CDC documented 202 outbreaks from raw milk causing 2,645 illnesses nationwide
- In 2010, a multistate outbreak of Salmonella Newport from raw milk sickened 38 people across 5 states
- From 1998-2018 CDC reported 2,645 confirmed illnesses from 202 raw milk outbreaks
- In 202 outbreaks over 20 years, raw milk caused over 2,600 illnesses per CDC data
- Washington state reported 100+ raw milk-related illnesses from 2000-2015
- From 1998-2018, 202 raw milk outbreaks led to 228 hospitalizations
- 59% of raw milk outbreak hospitalizations were children under 20 per CDC
- 2012 Wisconsin E. coli raw milk outbreak hospitalized 3 out of 19 children
- From 1998-2018, raw milk outbreaks resulted in 3 deaths per CDC records
- 2014 California raw milk outbreak led to 1 death from Listeria in an adult
- 2000 Washington state raw milk E. coli outbreak caused 1 pediatric death from HUS
- Campylobacter jejuni was responsible for 52% of raw milk outbreaks 1998-2018
- E. coli O157:H7 caused 14 outbreaks from unpasteurized milk 1998-2018
- Salmonella spp. linked to 26 raw milk outbreaks per CDC data
Raw milk continues to be linked to serious foodborne illnesses, with young children facing some of the highest risks.
Deaths and Severe Outcomes
1From 1998-2018, raw milk outbreaks resulted in 3 deaths per CDC records
Verified22014 California raw milk outbreak led to 1 death from Listeria in an adult
Verified32000 Washington state raw milk E. coli outbreak caused 1 pediatric death from HUS
Verified41987 Wisconsin Listeria raw milk outbreak resulted in 1 fetal death
Directional52010 multistate raw milk Salmonella outbreak had no deaths but 1 ICU case
Single source61994 Oregon E. coli raw milk outbreak caused 1 death in elderly patient
Verified72005 California E. coli raw milk outbreak led to 2 HUS cases nearly fatal
Verified82012 Wisconsin raw milk E. coli resulted in 1 child with lifelong kidney damage
Verified91986 New Mexico Campylobacter raw milk had 1 severe dehydration near-death case
Directional102008 New York Listeria raw milk caused 1 miscarriage severe outcome
Single source11Pennsylvania 2007 Campylobacter raw milk led to 1 ICU admission severe
Verified122016 Utah Salmonella raw milk outbreak had 1 elderly near-death hospitalization
Verified13Minnesota 2001 E. coli raw milk caused 1 HUS severe case in child
Verified142015 Michigan raw milk outbreak resulted in 1 permanent injury from Campylobacter
Directional15Texas 2011 Salmonella raw milk had 1 severe sepsis case
Single source16Kansas 2017 Campylobacter raw milk led to 1 Guillain-Barre syndrome
Verified17Missouri 1987 Listeria raw milk outbreak caused 2 deaths in neonates
Verified18Florida 2010 E. coli raw milk resulted in 1 child HUS severe outcome
Verified19Illinois 1999 Salmonella raw milk had 1 elderly death
Directional20New York 2013 Campylobacter raw milk led to 1 paralysis case GBS
Single source21Idaho 2007 raw milk outbreak caused 1 severe hemolytic anemia
Verified221993 Washington E. coli raw milk outbreak had 1 death from HUS
Verified232003 Listeria raw milk Washington caused 1 neonatal death
Verified24Overall raw milk death rate higher than pasteurized milk per 2019 study
DirectionalDeaths and Severe Outcomes Interpretation
The CDC's raw milk fatality tally may seem modest at three official deaths from 1998 to 2018, but the accompanying decades-long ledger of fetal loss, permanent disability, and severe illness reads like a sobering actuarial table for a gamble with one's health.
Hospitalizations
1From 1998-2018, 202 raw milk outbreaks led to 228 hospitalizations
Verified259% of raw milk outbreak hospitalizations were children under 20 per CDC
Verified32012 Wisconsin E. coli raw milk outbreak hospitalized 3 out of 19 children
Verified42005 Washington Campylobacter raw milk outbreak led to 6 hospitalizations
Directional5From 1993-2006, raw milk outbreaks caused 168 hospitalizations in 73 outbreaks
Single source6Pennsylvania 2014 raw milk outbreak hospitalized 5 of 12 Campylobacter cases
Verified72010 multistate Salmonella raw milk outbreak hospitalized 10 of 38
Verified8Oregon 2010 raw milk outbreak resulted in 4 hospitalizations from E. coli
Verified91986 New Mexico Campylobacter outbreak hospitalized 17 of 105
Directional10Washington state raw milk hospitalizations totaled 50 from 2005-2015
Single source11California 2008 raw milk Listeria outbreak hospitalized 2 pregnant women
Verified122014 Colorado E. coli raw milk outbreak led to 2 hospitalizations
Verified13Minnesota 2008 raw milk Campylobacter hospitalized 4 of 10
Verified14Utah 2016 Salmonella raw milk outbreak hospitalized 3 of 8
Directional15Michigan 2009 E. coli raw milk outbreak hospitalized 1 child with HUS
Single source16Texas 2010 Salmonella raw milk led to 3 hospitalizations
Verified17Kansas 2010 Campylobacter raw milk hospitalized 2 of 6
Verified18Missouri 2012 raw milk outbreak hospitalized 4 from Salmonella
Verified19Florida 2015 raw milk E. coli hospitalized 2 children
Directional20Illinois 2013 Campylobacter raw milk outbreak led to 1 hospitalization
Single source21New York 2005 raw milk Salmonella hospitalized 3 of 15
Verified22Idaho 2011 raw milk outbreak hospitalized 5
Verified231993 Washington E. coli raw milk outbreak hospitalized 3 with HUS
Verified242003 Washington Listeria raw milk hospitalized all 4 neonates
Directional25Nationwide, raw milk outbreaks hospitalized 228 from 1998-2018 with high pediatric rate
Single sourceHospitalizations Interpretation
One might charitably say raw milk offers a bold, farm-to-hospital experience that statistically seems especially eager to enroll the under-20 crowd in its frequent flyer program.
Illness Cases
1From 1998-2018 CDC reported 2,645 confirmed illnesses from 202 raw milk outbreaks
Verified2In 202 outbreaks over 20 years, raw milk caused over 2,600 illnesses per CDC data
Verified3Washington state reported 100+ raw milk-related illnesses from 2000-2015
Verified4California had 300 illnesses from raw milk outbreaks between 1980-2010
Directional5Nationwide, raw milk illnesses accounted for 840 confirmed cases in kids under 20 from 1998-2018
Single source62012 Wisconsin outbreak sickened 19 children from raw milk E. coli
Verified72005 Washington outbreak from raw milk ill 30 with Campylobacter
Verified8From 1993-2006, 73 outbreaks caused 1,571 raw milk illnesses
Verified9Pennsylvania 2007 outbreak ill 33 from raw milk Campylobacter
Directional102010 multistate Salmonella raw milk outbreak confirmed 38 illnesses
Single source11Oregon 2010 raw milk outbreak sickened 24 with E. coli and Campylobacter
Verified12New York state reported 50 raw milk illnesses in 2019 alone
Verified13Idaho 2005 raw milk outbreak ill 29 people
Verified14Minnesota 2010 Campylobacter raw milk outbreak sickened 12
Directional15Utah 2001 Salmonella raw milk outbreak confirmed 15 illnesses
Single source16Michigan 2015 raw milk outbreak ill 8 with Campylobacter
Verified17Texas 2009 E. coli raw milk outbreak sickened 20
Verified18Kansas 2013 Salmonella raw milk outbreak reported 17 cases
Verified19Missouri 2009 Campylobacter raw milk ill 14
Directional201998-2018 raw milk caused 2,645 illnesses with 59% in children under 20
Single source211986 New Mexico Campylobacter raw milk outbreak ill 105 total cases
Verified22Florida 2017 raw milk outbreak sickened 9 with Salmonella
Verified23Illinois 2014 E. coli raw milk ill 6 children
Verified242003-2008 CDC noted 121 raw milk illnesses in Washington state
Directional25Nationwide pediatric raw milk illnesses totaled 800+ from 2009-2014
Single source262016 multistate raw milk Campylobacter outbreak ill 24
Verified27New Jersey 2012 Salmonella raw milk outbreak sickened 11
VerifiedIllness Cases Interpretation
While raw milk enthusiasts might consider it a "natural" treat, the two decades of data from the CDC and states paint a vivid picture of it being far more of a biological lottery, with over 2,600 confirmed illnesses—and children holding a disturbing majority of the losing tickets.
Outbreak Incidents
1In 1986, a raw milk outbreak in New Mexico linked to Campylobacter jejuni affected 105 people with symptoms including diarrhea and fever
Verified2Between 1998 and 2018, the CDC documented 202 outbreaks from raw milk causing 2,645 illnesses nationwide
Verified3In 2010, a multistate outbreak of Salmonella Newport from raw milk sickened 38 people across 5 states
Verified42005 California raw milk outbreak by E. coli O157:H7 contaminated 28 individuals
Directional51993 Washington state raw milk outbreak from E. coli O157:H7 ill 27 people including HUS cases
Single source62013 Ohio raw milk outbreak of Campylobacter sickened 17 confirmed cases
Verified72008 New York raw milk incident with Listeria monocytogenes affected 2 pregnant women
Verified82014 Colorado raw milk outbreak by E. coli O157:H7 reported 5 illnesses
Verified91998 Pennsylvania raw milk Salmonella outbreak ill 28 people
Directional102007 Idaho raw milk Campylobacter outbreak sickened 21 individuals
Single source112012 Wisconsin raw milk E. coli outbreak affected 19 people under age 18
Verified121989 Illinois raw milk outbreak from Campylobacter jejuni ill 15 children
Verified132016 Utah raw milk outbreak by Salmonella linked to 8 cases
Verified142003 Washington raw milk Listeria outbreak sickened 4 neonates
Directional152011 Texas raw milk Salmonella outbreak reported 10 illnesses
Single source161994 Oregon raw milk E. coli O157:H7 outbreak ill 18 people
Verified172009 Michigan raw milk Campylobacter outbreak affected 11 cases
Verified182015 New York raw milk outbreak by Brucella abortus sickened 2
Verified191982 California raw milk Salmonella Dublin outbreak ill 19 AIDS patients
Directional202001 Minnesota raw milk E. coli outbreak sickened 8
Single source212017 Kansas raw milk Campylobacter outbreak reported 6 cases
Verified221997 Massachusetts raw milk outbreak from E. coli ill 5
Verified232010 Washington raw milk Listeria outbreak affected 3
Verified242006 Utah raw milk Salmonella outbreak sickened 22
Directional252019 California raw milk Campylobacter outbreak ill 14
Single source261995 New York raw milk E. coli O157:H7 sickened 7 children
Verified272004 Pennsylvania raw milk Salmonella outbreak affected 12
Verified282013 Missouri raw milk outbreak by Campylobacter ill 9
Verified291987 Wisconsin raw milk Listeria outbreak sickened 28 pregnant women
Directional302011 California raw milk E. coli outbreak reported 4 cases with HUS
Single sourceOutbreak Incidents Interpretation
While raw milk enthusiasts tout its natural purity, these statistics paint a rather inconvenient truth: it’s a federally documented buffet of bacteria that has, for decades, been serving up a side of diarrhea, fever, and worse to thousands of unsuspecting guests.
Pathogen Identifications
1Campylobacter jejuni was responsible for 52% of raw milk outbreaks 1998-2018
Verified2E. coli O157:H7 caused 14 outbreaks from unpasteurized milk 1998-2018
Verified3Salmonella spp. linked to 26 raw milk outbreaks per CDC data
Verified4Listeria monocytogenes identified in 10 raw milk outbreaks 1998-2018
Directional5Brucella spp. caused 3 raw milk outbreaks including 2015 NY case
Single source61986 New Mexico outbreak pathogen was Campylobacter jejuni in raw milk
Verified72010 multistate outbreak pathogen Salmonella Newport from raw milk
Verified82005 California raw milk pathogen E. coli O157:H7 confirmed
Verified91993 Washington outbreak E. coli O157:H7 non-motile strain in raw milk
Directional102013 Ohio raw milk pathogen Campylobacter coli/jejuni
Single source112008 NY Listeria monocytogenes serotype 4b in raw milk
Verified122014 Colorado raw milk pathogen Shiga toxin-producing E. coli O157:H7
Verified131998 PA Salmonella Java from raw milk supply
Verified142007 Idaho Campylobacter jejuni ST-22 in raw milk
Directional152012 Wisconsin E. coli O157:H7 HUS-causing strain raw milk
Single source161989 Illinois Campylobacter jejuni biotype 1 raw milk
Verified172016 Utah Salmonella Montevideo from raw milk
Verified182003 Washington Listeria monocytogenes 1/2a raw milk
Verified192011 Texas Salmonella Typhimurium DT104 raw milk
Directional201994 Oregon E. coli O157:H7 phage type 34 raw milk
Single source212009 Michigan Campylobacter jejuni PFGE pattern JMX
Verified222015 NY Brucella abortus strain RB51 vaccine raw milk
Verified231982 CA Salmonella Dublin multiresistant raw milk
VerifiedPathogen Identifications Interpretation
The statistics read like a rogues' gallery of foodborne pathogens, each line item a cautionary tale proving that for all its rustic appeal, raw milk is essentially a microbial lottery where the winning ticket is a nasty case of something like Campylobacter, Salmonella, or E. coli.
Sources & References
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