This Is What You Need to Know About Raw Milk

It’s safe to say that people are curious about raw milk. This dairy product has been all over the news lately, from the Los Angeles Times to The New York Times. It pops up on social media, too, where it can be challenging to tell truth from fiction. Here’s what raw milk is and whether or not it’s safe to drink.

What is raw milk​?

Raw milk is milk that has not been pasteurized. Pasteurization is the process of removing bacteria and other germs from milk with high heat. High temperatures destroy bacteria that cause foodborne illness (aka food poisoning). Pasteurization began in the United States in the early 1900s and basically eliminated milk-related illnesses, according to the FDA.

Raw milk is often available at farmers markets and local farms. State governments regulate the sale of raw milk.

Why are so many people talking about raw milk right now?

You’ve likely seen raw milk in the news. One reason is the outbreak of H5N1, also known as avian influenza or bird flu, in cows. In response, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) started testing raw milk across the country to try to curb the transmission of the highly contagious virus.

Another reason raw milk is in the news: Secretary of Health and Human Services nominee Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is a proponent of it and has called for an end to its “aggressive suppression.”

Is raw milk safe?

PATRICK T. FALLON/Getty Images

No, raw milk is not safe to drink. It has a high risk of foodborne illness. The American Academy of Pediatrics strongly recommends against drinking raw milk because it may carry several types of bacteria, including salmonella, E. coli, listeria, campylobacter and tuberculosis. In 2015, a review in Nutrition Today found that up to a third of the raw milk samples tested for bacteria contained germs that could cause serious illness.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there were 202 foodborne illness outbreaks in the United States linked to raw milk between 1998 and 2018. The outbreaks were responsible for 2,645 reported illnesses and 228 hospitalizations.

In 2022, a study in Epidemiology & Infection found states that allow the sale of raw milk report more outbreaks of foodborne illness. Symptoms of foodborne illness from raw milk include diarrhea, vomiting and stomach cramping. Rare but serious complications may include kidney disease, Guillain-Barré syndrome and even death.

Raw milk is one of the foods you should avoid while pregnant, breastfeeding or planning to become pregnant. Other people at high risk of getting sick from raw milk include young children under the age of five, older adults and those with compromised immune systems.

To lower your risk of food poisoning, choose milk that has been pasteurized and keep it refrigerated. Never drink expired or spoiled milk.