A 3-year-old boy has died and four other children have fallen ill in an E. coli and Cryptosporidium outbreak linked to raw milk sold by a company based in Victoria, Australia. The milk, Mountain View Organic Bath Milk, was labeled as being “for cosmetic use only” and “not for human consumption,” as well as “organic, grass-fed, ethical.” Raw milk is illegal to sell for human consumption in Australia, but labeling it as a cosmetic product allows for it to be sold. The five children sickened in the outbreak were between 1 and 5 years old. Three children, including the boy who died, developed hemolytic uremic syndrome, a kidney disease associated with severe E. coli infections. The other two children came down with infections from Cryptosporidium, a pathogen that causes vomiting, nausea and stomach cramping. Victoria’s minister for emergency services has reportedly called for an investigation into raw-milk labeling, according to the Guardian. Regulators from around the country are also said to be discussing whether the product should be recalled or even banned. Mountain View Organic Bath Milk has been sold for four years. These are the first illnesses connected to the product, according to the owner. Raw milk is milk that has not been pasteurized to eliminate potentially harmful pathogens. Children, the elderly, and individuals with compromised immune systems are especially vulnerable to pathogens such as E. coli and Cryptosporidium sometimes found in milk.
