Paediatricians warn raw milk offers no health gain but carries serious infection risks

The American Academy of Pediatrics says unpasteurised milk provides no proven nutritional advantage over pasteurised dairy, while increasing the risk of dangerous infections, particularly for children and other vulnerable groups.

Pediatricians are again warning families away from raw milk, saying the appeal of “natural” dairy is not matched by the evidence. The American Academy of Pediatrics has said in a policy statement published in Pediatrics that unpasteurised milk offers no proven health advantage over pasteurised milk, while carrying a clearly higher risk of foodborne illness.

The case against raw milk is not theoretical. The academy pointed to US outbreak data showing that, between 2013 and 2018, raw milk was linked to 75 outbreaks, causing 675 illnesses, 98 hospitalisations and two deaths. Children and teenagers accounted for a large share of cases, and the youngest children were among those most at risk of severe complications. The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention also says pasteurisation is the key step that makes milk safe to drink because it kills harmful germs that can cause serious illness.

That warning matters most for infants, children, pregnant people, older adults and anyone with a weakened immune system. According to the academy, raw milk can expose pregnant patients to infections that may lead to miscarriage, stillbirth or severe newborn illness, while young children face dangers such as haemolytic uraemic syndrome, a potentially life-threatening complication that can follow certain E. coli infections. The US Food and Drug Administration likewise says unpasteurised milk can harbour dangerous bacteria and viruses.

Supporters of raw milk often argue that heating milk strips out important nutrients, but the available evidence does not back up that claim. The academy said pasteurisation does not meaningfully change milk’s overall nutritional value, preserving major minerals and key components such as lactose, while only modestly affecting some heat-sensitive proteins and antioxidant activity. Harvard Health and Cleveland Clinic have made similar points, saying the supposed wellness benefits of raw milk are not supported by strong evidence.

The issue has gained fresh urgency because of highly pathogenic bird flu. The academy said avian influenza virus has been detected in raw milk from infected cows, and pasteurisation inactivates the virus. Although no human infections were linked to raw milk consumption at the time of the policy statement, the presence of the virus in infected animals has added another layer of concern for public health officials.

The academy is urging clinicians to counsel families to choose pasteurised dairy and is backing broader restrictions on the sale of unpasteurised milk and milk products. It said the recommendation applies not only to cow’s milk, but also to milk from goats, sheep and other animals, as well as to some raw-milk cheeses. The CDC, FDA and major medical centres have issued similar advice, reflecting a broad consensus that the safest way to get milk’s benefits is to drink it pasteurised.