An Annenberg survey of 1,031 American adults found that the population did not know much about raw milk at a time when that lack of knowledge could be putting people at risk.

“Consuming raw milk or products made with it is riskier than drinking pasteurized milk. Yet fewer than half of U.S. adults know that drinking raw milk is less safe than pasteurized milk, and many Americans do not understand the risks of consuming raw milk,” according to the Annenberg Public Policy Center’s latest health survey.

And much of what the public does know about raw milk is just plain wrong.

The renewed interest in what the public does and does not know about raw milk comes as evidence shows that pasteurization of milk removes the risk of the Avian flu virus. This has raised interest in the level of public knowledge about raw milk.

The Annenberg survey found that public health findings about raw milk have failed to reach the public consciousness of many population segments.

The survey found that 47  percent of U.S. adults know drinking raw milk is less safe than pasteurized milk. In comparison, nearly a quarter (24 percent) of Americans either think incorrectly that pasteurization is not effective at killing bacteria and viruses in milk products (4 percent) or are not sure whether this is true (20 percent).

Because many Americans don’t understand the health risks of drinking raw milk, public health is starting from scratch with its new message that only pasteurized milk is safe to drink because of Avian flu.

The Annenberg survey measured adults’ knowledge about the risks associated with unpasteurized milk. The Food and Drug Administration continues to find the pasteurized commercial milk supply is safe.

The phone survey found that less than a majority, or 47 percent, knew that raw milk is less safe to drink. And 24 percent either wrongly said pasteurized milk does not effectively kill bacteria and viruses or they did not know for sure.

Younger Americans were less likely than seniors to know that pasteurization does not destroy nutrients; and Republicans less likely than Democrats.

Before the Avian virus, raw milk was known for exposing people to pathogens like E. Coli, Listeria, and Salmonella. The World Health Organization says the mortality rate for Avian flu could be as high as 50 percent.

People 65 or older, college educated, and leaning Democrat were most likely to understand the benefits of pasteurization and don’t believe it destroys nutrients in milk. Urban residents are more likely to view raw milk as unsafe.

“The difference in views of raw milk that we see between Democrats and Republicans is difficult to disentangle from the difference between rural and urban dwellers,” said Kathleen Hall Jamieson, director of the Annenberg Public Policy Center. “Those in rural areas are both more likely to identify as Republicans and to consume raw milk.”

SSRS, a market research company, surveyed 1,031 U.S. adults from June 7 to 10 as part of the SSRS Opinion Panel Omnibus. The margin of error for total respondents is ±3.5 percentage points at the 95 percent confidence level. 

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