For no reason in particular, here are the dangers associated with raw milk

There's no evidence that the food poisoning Bryce Harper suffered on Monday had anything to do with raw milk.

So consider this a PSA to everyone in the world. But if any future Hall of Famers who enjoy raw milk just happen to get the info? That would be ok too.

According to a 2024 advisory from the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA), raw milk "can harbor dangerous germs that can pose serious health risks to you and your family."

The FDA advisory cites data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicating that, "from 1998 through 2018, there were 202 outbreaks linked to drinking raw milk. These outbreaks caused 2,645 illnesses and 228 hospitalizations." The CDC also points out that most foodborne illnesses are not a part of recognized outbreaks, meaning for every illness reported, many others occur.

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— Absolutely Hammered (@ah_pod) February 18, 2025

More from the FDA: "Raw milk can carry dangerous germs such as Salmonella, E. coli, Listeria, Campylobacter, and others that cause foodborne illness, often called 'food poisoning.'"

Now, let's say you're the face of an MLB franchise and you still want to drink some milk. Can you do so safely?

You sure can! Pasteurization, a process that dates back to 1864, takes milk and "kills harmful organisms responsible for such diseases as listeriosis, typhoid fever, tuberculosis, diphtheria, Q fever, and brucellosis." That sounds like a good thing to do.

Super B-Day to Mike Schmidt, who was as fucking excited about the fat content of milk as any man could ever be. pic.twitter.com/rF3Ux2QGpt

— Super 70s Sports (@Super70sSports) September 28, 2016

Schmidtty really did love his ass some milk.

The FDA also debunks some myths about pasteurization in its advisory:

Here are some common myths and proven facts about milk and pasteurization:

Pasteurizing milk DOES NOT cause lactose intolerance and allergic reactions. Both raw milk and pasteurized milk can cause allergic reactions in people sensitive to milk proteins.

Raw milk DOES NOT kill dangerous pathogens by itself.

Raw milk marketed for pets and animals IS NOT safe for people to drink.

Pasteurization DOES NOT reduce milk's nutritional value.

Pasteurization DOES NOT mean that it is safe to leave milk out of the refrigerator for extended time, particularly after it has been opened.

Pasteurization DOES kill harmful germs.

Pasteurization DOES save lives.

We are, of course, free thinkers at On Pattison, so here's an alternate point of view from Sonja Agora. (Agora does not appear to be a doctor or scientist, and describes herself in her X bio as "The Gross Meat Lady.")

Raw milk is teeming with millions of beneficial bacteria your body desperately wants and needs, the complete opposite of commercial death milk.

Commercial milk is packed with dead bacteria, free radicals, broken proteins and fats through homogenization and a perfect pathogenic… pic.twitter.com/PPogJGQvqd

— Sonja Agora (@SonjaAgora) May 10, 2024