Fact checked by Sarah Scott
Key Points
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Milk parents purchase the grocery store is still safe to buy and drink
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What’s paused is the proficiency testing that measures how well labs are performing milk safety checks
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Parents do not need to be alarmed; the FDA is still making sure the milk you drink is safe
By now, you have likely heard that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has suspended its testing procedures for milk in the U.S. But the information that has been dispersed online about this change may not have included the entire picture, and may have even been unintentionally misleading or confusing. Even worse, it may have caused parents, who regularly buy milk for their children, unnecessary worry about the safety of milk in the United States.
Here’s the expert-backed truth about what parents can expect from milk they are buying at the grocery store—including what FDA testing looks like now, and whether or not milk is still safe for your family to drink. What’s more, experts offer tips on how to ensure your kids are drinking the best milk possible.
The Truth About Suspended Milk Testing
According to Brian Labus, PhD, MPH, REHS, an expert in infectious diseases and an assistant professor in the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at the UNLV School of Public Health, the suspended FDA program was responsible for ensuring that all the labs that are responsible for testing milk—like those at the state level—are able to correctly and consistently identify contaminants when they perform their testing.
However, that doesn’t mean milk will no longer be tested for contaminants at all.
“I think there has been a widespread misperception that milk is no longer being tested,” Dr. Labus clarifies. “That is absolutely not true. The requirements for testing milk and other dairy products have not changed.”
What Type of Food Safety Testing Was Suspended?
Samuel Alcaine, PhD, vice president, regulatory and scientific affairs, International Dairy Foods Association, milk and dairy products tells Parents that milk continue to be regularly tested and inspected by state and federal regulators under the Pasteurized Milk Ordinance (PMO). This program was designed to ensure milk safety in the U.S. more than 100 years ago and it’s still in place today.
That being said, changes are being made—but not the testing process itself.
“What’s temporarily paused is a separate proficiency program that evaluates how well laboratories conduct those tests—not the tests themselves,” says Dr. Alcaine. “This pause does not affect the actual testing of milk or dairy products on farms or at processing facilities.”
What Aspect Food Safety Testing Is Changing?
Despite the FDA’s pause of the Food Emergency Response Network Proficiency Testing Program, testing is still being done by milk processing facilities, third party labs, and state regulatory agencies, says Nicole Martin, PhD, an assistant research professor in dairy foods microbiology and director of the Milk Quality Improvement Program (MQIP) at Cornell University.
Separate from the milk tests themselves are tests which analyze how well said laboratories are performing their tests on milk and other food safety checks. That, as Dr. Alcaine specified above, is what is being paused by the FDA.
“Proficiency testing is required for certified laboratories to show that their procedures, and analysts, can perform testing adequately,” says Dr. Martin. “This is an important program, but there are other agencies that do and can provide the proficiency testing…The certified labs [will] continue to do all of the testing that they normally do to ensure the quality and safety of the milk supply.”
What’s more, some dairy labs participate in third-party proficiency testing programs as well, which provides an added layer of assurance that labs are accurately conducting required tests, adds Dr. Alcaine. “The dairy industry has long prioritized safety, and these additional programs help ensure the integrity of milk testing processes remains high.”
When Will Proficiency Testing Resume?
An FDA spokesperson told Parents in an email that its Food Emergency Response Network Proficiency Testing Program will resume once transferred to another FDA laboratory. An effort, they say, is actively underway.
“In the meantime, state and federal labs continue to analyze food samples,” the FDA spokesperson said. “The FDA remains committed to working with states to protect the safety of the pasteurized milk supply.”
What This Change Means for You and Your Kids
Because nothing has changed with the way officials are testing milk, there should be no increased risk of illness for kids or anyone else who drinks milk, says Dr. Labus, so feel free to breathe a sigh of relief.
“[Proficiency] testing is something that is done on an annual basis, so a temporary change will not cause any sort of disruptions.”
However, Rafael Jimenez-Flores, PhD, the J.T. Parker endowed chair for dairy foods in the Department of Food Science and Technology at The Ohio State University, stresses the importance of reinstating the proficiency testing program as soon as possible.
“There have been many instances that these inspections have found important irregularities that, as should happen with preventative measures, have prevented an incalculable number of illnesses or even deaths,” says Dr. Jimenez-Flores.
“There are instances in the U.S. and the world where, even with strict inspections, tragedies have happened, he says. “One [example] was the case of Snow Brands in Japan where [thousands] of people got sick and there were several fatalities.”
How to Make Sure Your Kids’ Milk Is Safe
As long as you are purchasing pasteurized milk, you don’t need to change brands or product types that you purchase, says Dr. Martin. But, in some states she says it’s legal to sell unpasteurized (or raw) milk in retail locations, which is not safe for children.
Risks of Raw or Unpasteurized Milk
According to the FDA, numerous studies have found that raw milk potentially contains pathogens that can be harmful if consumed, particularly for children. Meanwhile, pasteurization kills these pathogens without negatively affecting the nutritional makeup of the milk. Keep in mind, drinking raw milk will not cure lactose intolerance, allergies, or asthma. And, it doesn’t prevent osteoporosis. Instead, raw milk has caused 2,659 illnesses, 269 hospitalizations, three deaths, six stillbirths, and two miscarriages between 1987 and 2010.
“Raw milk often contains pathogens that are especially dangerous for young children,” adds Dr. Labus. “And despite the supposed health benefits that are frequently discussed on social media, raw milk has not been shown to prevent or treat any diseases.”
What Do If You’re Still Worried
If you are still concerned about your child’s milk while the proficiency program is paused, Dr. Jimenez-Flores suggests considering ultra-pasteurized milk, or UHT milk. UHT milk is processed under an ultra-high temperature and processing under those conditions lowers the risk of contamination or faulty processing, he says.
Likewise, for families that want to reduce lactose consumption, there are many lactose-free options, which also tend to be ultra-pasteurized, says Dr. Martin. Plus, UHT milk is shelf-stable, so it can be a great option for families who are camping with kids, or traveling, she says.
“[UHT milk] is a great option for families looking for longer-lasting milk, especially if you don’t go through milk quickly or need pantry-stable options,” adds Dr. Alcaine.
Read the original article on Parents
