The alert is back for the consumption of cheeses produced with raw milk. In recent days, a one-year-old boy from Belluno has been hospitalized in critical conditions in Padua after developing a serious renal complication, the hemolytic-uremic syndrome, arising precisely after the ingestion of a contaminated raw milk cheese.
The child is in serious condition but, fortunately, the latest news of the doctors speak of a slow but constant improvement. The story, however, has rekindled the spotlight on the risks related to this food only in harmless.
In recent months in Italy there have been 2 similar cases: a one -year -old girl who is intoxicated in November and a nine -year -old boy in Trentino in January hit by intestinal infection. Fortunately, both are fine but it is impossible to forget the tragic case of Elia, a child who died in May 2024 precisely for Seu after eating contaminated cheese.
These are fortunately rare episodes, but which can be prevented thanks to clear information and a full awareness of the risks, especially for families with young children.
The role of Ascheichia coli in raw milk cheeses
Also in this case, as in the previous ones, the cheese was contaminated by a particularly aggressive strain of Escherichia coli, which can be in milk already in the milking phase. If the product is not subjected to pasteurization or boiling, the risk of infection remains high. In adults, symptoms can be milder and more transient, but in children the consequences can become very serious, up to provoking renal failure or hemorrhagic enteritis.
The hemolytic-uremic syndrome has a 1-5 day incubation period, and in the case of the Belluno child the first symptoms appeared only after a few days from the consumption of cheese. Currently the child is being treated at the pediatric nephrology of the Padua hospital, where doctors carefully follow the therapy for kidney failure.
In parallel, the Ulss Dolomiti prevention department is leading investigations to reconstruct the places where the family has consumed products based on raw milk. Since the child has tasted cheeses in different contexts, experts are trying to identify those possibly contaminated. For this purpose, numerous samples have been taken, now on the examination of the Zooprophylactic Institute of the Venezie for in -depth analyzes in search of the bacterium.
How to protect children
Ulss Dolomiti recommends families to follow some food precautions for children:
These measures are particularly important because food infections can have very serious consequences, even lethal, in children under 5 years.
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Is a new law coming?
The repetition of serious episodes has rekindled the political debate on the need for specific legislation for raw milk cheeses. Currently, a bill is under discussion in Parliament which, if approved, would introduce more restrictive measures than the current legislation. Among the main points they include:
An innovative element of the proposal concerns the introduction of a graphic symbol immediately recognizable on the labels, to report the potential danger to consumers. This measure aims to make information clearer and more direct, helping parents make more aware and safe choices for their children.
Currently, only the wording ‘raw milk cheese’ is reported on the packaging, without indicating the potential dangers for children. This lack of clarity can induce consumers to underestimate the risks.
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