Drinking raw milk is significantly more dangerous than drinking pasteurized milk
Substantial epidemiological evidence demonstrates that drinking raw milk carries a significantly higher risk of foodborne illness and pathogen transmission compared to pasteurized milk.
Multiple surveillance reports, policy statements, and epidemiological studies (such as those by the CDC and public health departments) consistently find that unpasteurized dairy products are responsible for a disproportionate number of severe foodborne outbreaks and hospitalizations compared to pasteurized alternatives.
J. Whitehead, Bryony Lake. Recent Trends in Unpasteurized Fluid Milk Outbreaks, Legalization, and Consumption in the United States. 2018. https://doi.org/10.1371/currents.outbreaks.bae5a0fd685616839c9cf857792730d1
Analyzes trends in unpasteurized milk outbreaks to demonstrate ongoing public health risks.
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L. Koski, Hannah Kisselburgh, Lisa Landsman, Rachel L. Hulkower, Mara Howard-Williams, Zainab Salah, Sunkyung Kim, Beau B. Bruce, Michael C. Bazaco, Michael B. Batz, Cary Chen Parker, Cynthia L. Leonard, A. Datta, E. N. Williams, G. S. Stapleton, M. Penn, Hilary K Whitham, M. Nichols. Foodborne illness outbreaks linked to unpasteurised milk and relationship to changes in state laws – United States, 1998–2018. 2022. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0950268822001649
Shows that states allowing retail sales of unpasteurized milk experience significantly more outbreak-associated illnesses.
Stephen P Oliver, Kathryn J Boor, Steven C Murphy, Shelton E Murinda. Food safety hazards associated with consumption of raw milk.. 2009. https://doi.org/10.1089/fpd.2009.0302
Concludes that unpasteurized milk carries clear pathogen contamination risks leading to severe illness, unlike pasteurized milk.
Consumption of raw or unpasteurized milk and milk products by pregnant women and children.. 2014. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2013-3502
Highlights that the risks of bacterial infection from raw milk outweigh any unproven health benefits, especially for vulnerable populations.
Solenne Costard, Luis Espejo, Huybert Groenendaal, Francisco J Zagmutt. Outbreak-Related Disease Burden Associated with Consumption of Unpasteurized Cow's Milk and Cheese, United States, 2009-2014.. 2017. https://doi.org/10.3201/eid2306.151603
Quantifies that unpasteurized dairy products cause hundreds of times more illnesses and hospitalizations than pasteurized products.
Michael Ablan, Michelle Canning, Lia Koski, Lisa Landsman, G Sean Stapleton, Megin Nichols, Misha Robyn. Responding to outbreaks of illness linked to unpasteurized milk: A needs assessment of state health and agriculture departments.. 2024. https://doi.org/10.1111/zph.13117
Confirms that unpasteurized milk consumption frequently results in severe illness or death due to lack of pasteurization.
Kenneth R Davis, Angela C Dunn, Cindy Burnett, Laine McCullough, Melissa Dimond, Jenni Wagner, Lori Smith, Amy Carter, Sarah Willardson, Allyn K Nakashima. Campylobacter jejuni Infections Associated with Raw Milk Consumption--Utah, 2014.. 2016. https://doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6512a1
Demonstrates through a specific outbreak investigation that raw milk can harbor dangerous pathogens even when meeting routine testing standards.
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