Profile of raw milk consumers in California.
OBJECTIVE
The authors sought to determine the prevalence of raw milk consumption in California--the largest producer of certified raw milk in the United States--and to describe the demographic and behavioral characteristics of raw milk consumers in that state.


METHODS
The authors analyzed responses to questions on the 1994 California Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Survey that asked respondents about whether they drank raw milk, the amount consumed, the reason for drinking raw milk, and where raw milk was most often obtained.


RESULTS
Among 3999 survey respondents, 3.2% reported drinking raw milk in the previous year. Raw milk drinkers were more likely than nondrinkers to be younger than age 40, male, and Hispanic and to have less than a high school education.


CONCLUSIONS
Raw milk continues to be consumed by some residents of California despite the documented hazards associated with this dietary practice.
Headrick
M L
ML
Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Washington, DC, USA.
Timbo
B
B
Klontz
K C
KC
Werner
S B
SB
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D002140:California; D004522:Educational Status; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008892:Milk / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011159:Population Surveillance; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors