Raw veggies? Great choice. Raw milk? Maybe not.
In digital and real-life spaces across the United States, “raw” or unpasteurized milk has soared in popularity. Advocates claim that unprocessed milk is better for you, for all sorts of reasons. But science—and history—say otherwise, explains Brianna L. Hohmann, D.O., an infectious disease specialist at Henry Ford Health.
“There’s a lot of misinformation around unpasteurized milk,” she says. “But the fact is, raw milk can contain bacteria and other pathogens that cause serious illnesses.”
Here’s what to know before you visit the dairy aisle.
Raw Milk vs. Pasteurized Milk
Pasteurization involves heating milk to high temperatures that kill any bacteria and viruses it might contain. “Pasteurization was put into place in the mid-1900s because people were getting sick from drinking unpasteurized milk,” Dr. Hohmann explains. “After it was introduced, illnesses and deaths associated with drinking milk really decreased. In fact, pasteurization was one of the major public health achievements of the 20th century.”
So why the pushback? Raw milk’s proponents claim that unprocessed milk is more natural, and as a result has more nutritional value. Some influencers have suggested raw milk can cure lactose intolerance and allergic diseases.
“Those claims aren’t supported by the evidence,” Dr. Hohmann notes. “On the other hand, we have a vast amount of data showing that drinking raw milk can make people sick.”
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Risks of Raw Milk
Most people know that raw meat is associated with foodborne illnesses. Raw milk carries many of the same bacteria, including:
- E. coli
- Campylobacter
- Listeria
- Salmonella
Infections with these germs can cause symptoms such as diarrhea, vomiting and stomach cramps. Sometimes, they cause serious—even life-threatening—illness. People most at risk of serious symptoms include:
- Children under 5
- Older adults
- Pregnant women
- People who are immunocompromised
But anyone can be impacted by the pathogens in unpasteurized dairy products. “These infections can cause serious illness even in healthy people,” Dr. Hohmann says.
Raw Milk and Bird Flu
In recent years, another raw milk threat has emerged. Bird flu, officially known as the A(H5N1) virus, is infecting cows in the U.S.—and has been found in their milk.
The good news is that pasteurization kills the bird flu virus, so there’s no concern about drinking pasteurized milk. Raw milk is another story. So far, there’s no evidence that anyone has caught bird flu from drinking unpasteurized milk. But scientists say it’s possible, especially as bird flu cases spread in dairy cattle.
Is Raw Milk Illegal?
The risks of raw milk extend to any products made from dairy, including cheese, butter and ice cream.
In most states, dairy products sold in retail grocery stores must be pasteurized. But you can find unpasteurized milk and dairy products on store shelves in some places. And raw milk products can be legally sold at farm stands or farmers markets in most states.
“In some places, there have been pushes to relax restrictions on sales of raw milk, so it’s a good idea to check the laws where you live,” Dr. Hohmann says. “Read labels to see if products are pasteurized and ask if you’re unsure.”
Reviewed by Brianna L. Hohmann, D.O., an infectious disease physician at Henry Ford Health.
