Influencers promote raw milk despite FDA health warnings as bird flu spreads in dairy cows
CBSN
On May 7, health influencer Paul Saladino, M.D.. posted a video to his X account that promoted feeding "raw dairy" to infants. The post received over 90,000 views and sparked strong backlash before it was removed the following day. Saladino regularly advocates for "animal-based" diets featuring raw milk, including on his TikTok channel where he has over half a million followers.
Interest in raw milk is rising in the U.S., fueled by both "wellness" and conservative influencers on social media. Posts promoting unpasteurized dairy have racked up millions of views, and celebrities including Gwyneth Paltrow have touted the supposed benefits.
But health officials have long warned against consuming raw dairy because it can harbor germs that pose serious health risks. The American Academy of Pediatrics warns that infants, children and pregnant women are at higher risk of illness from dairy products that haven't been pasteurized — a process that uses heat to kill off dangerous organisms.
