Raw Milk: The Questions People Actually Ask

Milk from cows, goats, sheep or other animals that has not been pasteurized, a heat treatment that kills harmful germs.

Key takeaways

• What pasteurization does: heats milk to kill harmful germs without significantly changing its nutritional value
• Interstate sale for drinking: banned by federal law; state laws on in-state sale vary
• Most useful single change: Look for the word "pasteurized" on milk, cheese and other dairy labels.
• Commonest mistake: Raw milk, cheese or yogurt during pregnancy or for babies and young children.
• See a doctor if any of the signs under "When to speak to a doctor" below apply to you.

What is Raw Milk?

Milk from cows, goats, sheep or other animals that has not been pasteurized, a heat treatment that kills harmful germs.

Why does it matter?

Raw milk and products made from it can carry Listeria, Salmonella, E. coli, Campylobacter and Brucella, and bird flu virus has been found in raw milk from infected dairy cows.

What pasteurization does for Raw Milk?

Heats milk to kill harmful germs without significantly changing its nutritional value.

Interstate sale for drinking for Raw Milk?

Banned by federal law; state laws on in-state sale vary.

Germs it can carry for Raw Milk?

Listeria, Salmonella, E. coli, Campylobacter, Brucella and H5N1 bird flu virus.

Highest-risk groups for Raw Milk?

Pregnant people, babies and young children, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems.

What is the single most useful thing to do?

Look for the word "pasteurized" on milk, cheese and other dairy labels.

What is the most common mistake?

Raw milk, cheese or yogurt during pregnancy or for babies and young children.

When should I see a doctor?

See your doctor if you develop vomiting, diarrhea, fever, muscle aches or red, irritated eyes after drinking raw milk, and tell them what you drank. Call 911 for bloody diarrhea with little or no urine, a stiff neck with fever, confusion or a seizure.

More questions, answered

Does pasteurization destroy the nutrients in milk?

Not significantly. According to the FDA, pasteurized milk keeps its key nutrients, including protein and calcium. Small changes in some heat-sensitive vitamins are minor, and milk is not a major source of those vitamins anyway.

Is raw milk from grass-fed or organic cows safer?

No. Organic, grass-fed and small-farm herds can still carry harmful bacteria, and contamination can occur during milking regardless of how carefully animals are raised. Only pasteurization reliably kills these germs.

Can I get bird flu from pasteurized milk?

Federal agencies have found that pasteurization inactivates H5N1 bird flu virus, and the commercial pasteurized milk supply is considered safe. The concern is raw milk and products made from it.

Are raw-milk cheeses safe because they are aged?

Aging reduces some risks but does not eliminate them, especially for Listeria. Soft and fresh cheeses made from raw milk carry the highest risk. Hard, aged cheeses are lower risk, but people in high-risk groups are advised to choose pasteurized versions.

Does raw milk help with allergies or asthma?

There is no good evidence that drinking raw milk treats or prevents allergies or asthma, and it carries real risks. Talk to your doctor or an allergist about proven treatments.

Can I make raw milk safe at home?

Heating milk to pasteurization temperatures at home can kill harmful germs, and some families use home pasteurizers. Your local Cooperative Extension office can explain tested methods. Simply chilling or filtering raw milk does not make it safe.

Related topics

• The Evidence on West Nile Virus and Mosquitoes, Without the Hype (Infectious Diseases)
• Gut Health and Immunity: What the Evidence Actually Says (Immunity)
• The Evidence on Vegetarian and Vegan Diets, Without the Hype (Healthy Recipes)
• Food Allergy: What the Evidence Actually Says (Allergies)

Where to go next

• Raw Milk: Sorting the Evidence From the Noise
• Making Sense of Raw Milk
• Raw Milk — the reference entry
• Food Safety: The Complete Guide
• Eggs and Salmonella: What Published Guidance Supports
• Listeria in Pregnancy: What Published Guidance Supports

When to speak to a doctor

See your doctor if you develop vomiting, diarrhea, fever, muscle aches or red, irritated eyes after drinking raw milk, and tell them what you drank. Call 911 for bloody diarrhea with little or no urine, a stiff neck with fever, confusion or a seizure.

Where this comes from

• FDA — The Dangers of Raw Milk: Unpasteurized Milk Can Pose a Serious Health Risk
• CDC — Raw Milk

How this page was put together

Every figure, recommendation and warning above is taken from the guidance named in Where this comes from. Nothing on this page is inferred, summarized or generalized beyond what those bodies publish: where they give a number, it is their number, and where they are silent, so are we. Pages are rebuilt whenever the underlying record changes. Sign-off by a named clinician, where it has happened, is shown at the top of the page along with the date.

Medical disclaimer

This article is general information, not medical advice. It cannot account for your own history, medication or circumstances. Always speak to your doctor, pharmacist or another qualified health professional before making changes that affect your treatment, and never delay seeking medical advice because of something you have read here. In an emergency, call 911.