Dangers Associated with Raw Milk Remain Clear: Another Outbreak of Salmonella Infections

Consumption of raw milk and associated products has been linked to various infections; now, public health investigators describe 171 cases of epidemiologically linked Salmonella Typhimurium infections occurring between September 2023 and March 2024, most of which were genetically confirmed to match the Salmonella strain isolated at a California farm that sells raw milk.

Patients ranged in age from 9 months to 87 years — in all, 60% were children. Of 22 hospitalized patients, 18 were children; there were no deaths. Among patients (or their parents) who were interviewed, 79% reported consuming raw milk compared to a population background rate of 2%. Rapid public health responses identified the source of the outbreak, resulting in a product rec…