A qualitative study into parents understanding of risk from raw milk:1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Understanding parental perception of health risks from consumption of raw milk by children: a qualitative study
IRAS ID
250922
Contact name
Brendan Mason
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Public Health Wales
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 5 months, 1 days
Research summary
More people are drinking raw (unpasteurised) milk due to a perception that it contains superior nutritional and immunological content to pasteurised milk. However, raw milk can contain harmful bacteria not destroyed by the heat treatment of pasteurisation. Such bacteria can cause illness in humans and outbreaks of infectious diseases. Due to this risk, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) advices against consumption of raw milk by vulnerable populations including children. In Wales, there is a statutory requirement for all raw milk products to display a health warning advising against consumption by children. Despite these warnings cases of illness following drinking raw milk by children still occur.
Current published research has not explored in-depth, parents understanding of the benefits and risks of raw milk products or considered why parents make choices against FSA advice. This research aims to explore parental perception of raw milk and parent’s decision-making process in allowing their children to drink raw milk. The research also aims to understand the significance that parents attach to current statutory health warning labels on raw milk products.
Public Health Wales investigated an outbreak of Campylobacter jejuni associated with drinking raw milk at a National Agricultural Show in 2017. Participants for this research study will be identified as parents of children notified within this outbreak. Participants will be asked to take part in a one-off semi-structured interview lasting 30 minutes to 1 hour. The interview will explore their views on raw milk, their decision-making process prior to drinking raw milk and the impact of current health warnings on this decision. Interviews will be analysed to identify common factors and themes. The identification of such factors will inform how health information can be presented to parents so that they can make an informed choice regarding this food product. The study will last 6 months.REC name
London - Westminster Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
18/LO/1657
Date of REC Opinion
27 Sep 2018
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion