(NewsNation) — Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is expected to make an announcement about dairy.
The upcoming announcement comes as raw milk becomes more popular in health and wellness circles and the debate over pasteurization continues. Kennedy has also been a proponent for raw milk, saying he drinks it regularly.
In April, Kennedy suspended a quality control program that tests the country’s milk supply.
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According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, pasteurization is the process of heating a food product for a certain amount of time to destroy bacteria and viruses present. Some products typically pasteurized include dairy products, eggs, juices, canned food, flour, honey and alcohol. However, milk, artisanal cheese, juice and meat can sometimes be bought unpasteurized.
Pasteurization can prevent foodborne illnesses such as typhoid fever, tuberculosis, diphtheria and Q fever.
Proponents of unpasteurized products argue helpful bacteria is removed alongside harmful bacteria.
Alongside Kennedy for the announcement will be Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins and Food and Drug Administration commissioner Marty Makary.
