Raw Milk Health Risks Significantly Outweigh Any Potential Benefits − Food Scientists and Nutritionists Explain Why

What is Pasteurization? Does it Destroy Nutrients?

Pasteurization is a process that involves heating beverages and foods at high temperatures – over 145 degrees Fahrenheit (62.78 degrees Celsius) – to kill harmful microorganisms, such as bacteria, viruses, and parasites. This reduces the total number of microorganisms in the product and also inactivates enzymes that could contribute to spoilage.

The taste, nutritional value, and quality of pasteurized products aren’t significantly affected by the process. While pasteurization can lead to some nutrient losses, the changes are generally minimal and outweighed by the benefits. Pasteurization typically causes minor denaturation of proteins and has little effect on fats and carbohydrates. While water-soluble vitamins such as vitamin C and some B vitamins, usually not abundant in milk except vitamin B2, can be partially degraded during pasteurization, fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, and K, found in significant amounts in milk) are more heat-stable and suffer minimal loss.

Is Raw Milk Healthier than Pasteurized Milk?

Studies have compared the benefits of raw milk with pasteurized milk and have found little evidence that raw milk is superior to pasteurized milk. The perceived advantages of raw milk are outweighed by its health risks.

Raw milk does not improve lactose intolerance. Raw milk also does not have more vitamins than pasteurized milk. Milk is not a good source of vitamin C or other heat-sensitive vitamins, and pasteurization does little to reduce vitamin B2 or riboflavin, which is not as sensitive to heat. Moreover, vitamin D is added to pasteurized milk to enhance your body’s ability to absorb the calcium in milk.

What are the Health Risks of Consuming Raw Milk?

The health risks of consuming raw, unpasteurized milk come from the harmful microorganisms that may be present. Raw milk has been associated with hundreds of foodborne disease outbreaks. Between 1998 and 2018, 202 outbreaks resulted in 2,645 illnesses and 228 hospitalizations. More recently, from 2022 to 2023, there were 18 outbreaks and recalls associated with raw milk. A number of outbreaks and recalls associated with pathogens in raw milk have already occurred in 2024. In all cases, pathogens in the raw milk that cause human diseases were directly responsible for these illnesses.

Some illnesses from the pathogens in raw milk can have serious long-term effects, including paralysis, kidney failure, and death. Researchers found that areas where raw milk was legally sold in the U.S. from 1998 to 2018 had over three times more outbreaks than areas where selling raw milk was illegal. Areas where raw milk was allowed to be sold in retail stores had nearly four times more outbreaks than areas where sales were allowed only on farms.

Is it Safe to Eat Foods Made from Raw Milk?

Many, if not all, dairy products made from unpasteurized milk are not safe to eat. Pathogens in raw milk can survive the processes involved in making these types of dairy products and thus be unsafe for consumption.

Can Pasteurized Milk Still Get You Sick?

The few reported outbreaks associated with pasteurized milk can be traced to contamination after pasteurization. When handled properly, pasteurized milk is a very safe product.

Can You Gain Immunity from H5N1 from Drinking Raw Milk?

Some people believe that drinking raw milk can strengthen their immune system. However, there is no scientific evidence to support that drinking raw milk can improve immunity against disease. Vaccines train your body to protect itself from future infections without actually getting sick from that infection.

Raw milk contains live H5N1 virus, meaning it could still infect you and make you sick. Rather than contributing to your immunity, raw milk exposes you to the virus at its full strength and can result in severe illness. Any protective antibodies that may be present in raw milk are likely degraded in stomach acid.

Moreover, people who contract bird flu from raw milk run the risk of transmitting it to other people or animals by giving the virus a chance to adapt and improve its ability to spread between people. This increases the risk of more widespread disease outbreaks.

Conclusion

Despite the ongoing outbreak of bird flu in dairy cows, the popularity of raw milk has only risen. Advocates claim raw milk has superior health benefits over pasteurized milk. However, there is little evidence to support these claims, and the risk of serious illness is much greater. Food scientists and nutritionists emphasize that the health risks of consuming raw milk significantly outweigh any potential benefits. The taste, nutritional value, and quality of pasteurized products are not significantly affected by the process, and the changes are generally minimal and outweighed by the benefits.

FAQs

Q: Is raw milk safer than pasteurized milk?

A: No, raw milk is not safer than pasteurized milk. In fact, raw milk is associated with a higher risk of foodborne illness due to the presence of harmful microorganisms.

Q: Can raw milk improve lactose intolerance?

A: No, raw milk does not improve lactose intolerance. Lactose intolerance is caused by a deficiency of the enzyme lactase, which breaks down lactose, a sugar found in milk. Raw milk is not a solution to lactose intolerance.

Q: Does raw milk have more vitamins than pasteurized milk?

A: No, raw milk does not have more vitamins than pasteurized milk. In fact, pasteurization does not significantly affect the levels of fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, and K) in milk. Vitamin D is added to pasteurized milk to enhance your body’s ability to absorb the calcium in milk.

Q: Can I get immunity from H5N1 from drinking raw milk?

A: No, drinking raw milk does not provide immunity from H5N1. In fact, drinking raw milk can expose you to the live H5N1 virus, which can result in severe illness. Vaccines provide immunity against H5N1, not raw milk.

Q: Are there any benefits to drinking raw milk?

A: There are no scientifically proven benefits to drinking raw milk. In fact, the health risks of consuming raw milk significantly outweigh any potential benefits.

Q: Can I make my own dairy products using raw milk?

A: No, it is not safe to make your own dairy products using raw milk. Pathogens in raw milk can survive the processes involved in making these types of dairy products and thus be unsafe for consumption. It is recommended to purchase pasteurized dairy products from reputable sources to ensure your safety.