Raw milk contains beneficial probiotic bacteria that pasteurized milk lacks.

Is it true that raw milk contains beneficial probiotic bacteria that pasteurized milk lacks?

Partly. Some studies report isolating lactic acid bacteria with probiotic properties from raw milk, while an FDA consumer page states raw milk does not contain probiotic organisms and a review reports key probiotic bacteria only at low levels in raw bovine milk. None of the items directly compares raw and pasteurized milk, so the claim is only partially addressed in both directions.

Verdict: CONTESTED PARTIAL · 3 sources for, 2 against · Last checked 2 Oct 2026

The private library was unavailable for some searches in this check. Missing library results are not evidence against the claim.

S,, A. (2019). Screening of Indigenous Lactic Acid Bacteria from Raw and Fermented Milk for Probiotic Potential. zenodo.org. https://doi.org/10.31695/IJASRE.2019.33268

Raw Milk Misconceptions and the Danger of Raw Milk Consumption | FDA. (n.d.). fda.gov. https://www.fda.gov/food/buy-store-serve-safe-food/raw-milk-misconceptions-and-danger-raw-milk-consumption

S,, A. & M, O. A. A. S. (2019). Screening of Indigenous Lactic Acid Bacteria from Raw and Fermented Milk for Probiotic Potential. zenodo.org. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.3350791

Akil, L. (2020). Probiotic behavior study of four Enterococcus faecium isolated from raw milk in Algeria. zenodo.org. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.11530965

Raw Milk Consumption: Risks and Benefits - PMC Lock. (n.d.). pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. https://doi.org/10.1097/NT.0000000000000108