Milk-borne infections awareness and the health status of consumers: An on-line survey

Despite clear health risks associated with consuming unpasteurised milk, a considerable number of people are still consuming these products. We evaluated consumers' behaviour and perceptions about food safety risks related to raw milk and unpasteurised cheese product consumption, associating their awareness of foodborne diseases with the epidemiology of gastro-intestinal disorders. A cross-sectional study in Brazil was conducted using an online standard questionnaire. The consumption of raw milk and dairy products is widespread. Although 66% of consumers are misinformed about regulations, 90% of consumers are conscious about the risks of raw milk consumption. The level of awareness of milk-borne diseases is not equal across age and educational level. Although our results should be generalised with caution, we found that awareness of milk-borne diseases is a protective factor against abdominal pain, concluding that the ability to understand the risks of unpasteurised dairy product consumption was associated with health status of the population. (C) 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.