Florida law says it’s illegal to sell raw milk for human consumption, but that’s not stopping some of the state’s top officials from supporting residents who want to drink it.
Some have even made a complete 180, from promoting pasteurized milk to promoting consumer freedom within days.
In an Aug. 12 post on X, Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo said Floridians “have the freedom to make informed health choices.”
“I support the decision to consume raw milk when sought for potential health benefits and protective factors. Be aware of your source and know the risks,” Ladapo wrote.
Illness from raw milk can cause diarrhea, stomach cramping and vomiting, and severe complications can lead to paralysis, kidney failure, stroke, or even death, federal authorities say.
Interest in raw milk has been growing in recent years. In June 2024, U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said he “only drinks raw milk.”
Raw milk doesn’t cure ailments, experts say
Raw milk devotees say it tastes better and is healthier, but according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the American Medical Association, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, raw milk does not contain any extra beneficial bacteria and will not cure or treat asthma, allergies or lactose intolerance.
Florida Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson agreed with Ladapo in a statement given to the USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida on Aug. 12: “State Surgeon General Ladapo and I share the same position on raw milk. People should make informed decisions.”
To be sure, it’s a reversal to what his agency was saying a week ago.
In a press release on Aug. 6, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services encouraged Floridians to drink “only” pasteurized milk.
“Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) are encouraging Floridians to protect their health by only consuming pasteurized milk products,” the press release says.
“Florida’s pasteurized milk supply is safe, nutritious, and closely controlled from the farm to your local grocery store,” Simpson said in the release. “There have been no reported illnesses from pasteurized milk products in Florida, so Floridians should continue to buy and enjoy nutritious and wholesome dairy products from Florida farmers.”
As previously reported earlier this month, 21 people got sick and seven were hospitalized for bacterial infections, including E. coli, from drinking raw milk from Keely Farms Dairy in New Smyrna Beach.
Raw milk: OK as pet food in Florida
Raw milk can be sold as pet food in Florida, but it must be clearly labeled “not for human consumption.” the Keely Farms’ webpage did not mention pets.
Six of the infected people were children under age 10, the Florida Department of Health said. The cases were all in Central and Northeast Florida.
According to the CDC, improperly handled raw milk is responsible for nearly three times more hospitalizations than any other food-borne disease source.
And so far in 2025, there have been seven recalls or outbreaks from raw milk in the United States.
Ana Goñi-Lessan, state watchdog reporter for the USA TODAY Network – Florida, can be reached at agonilessan@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Florida surgeon general says raw milk has health benefits. Experts say he’s wrong
Reporting by Ana Goñi-Lessan, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida / Tallahassee Democrat
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
