Akron Children's > For Families & Patients > Health Information > Healthy Info, Healthy Kids > Is raw milk healthier than pasteurized milk?

Is raw milk healthier than pasteurized milk?

The Claim

Raw milk is healthier and more natural than pasteurized milk.

The Facts

The evidence does not show that raw milk is broadly healthier overall, but it does show that raw milk is far more likely to contain dangerous bacteria

The Truth

Raw milk and pasteurized milk provide similar nutrition, but raw milk is much more likely to make people – especially pregnant women and kids – very s

More about Dr. Korah

What we're hearing:

Raw milk is healthier and more natural than pasteurized milk.

What we're hearing:

Raw milk is healthier and more natural than pasteurized milk.

What's true:

Many families are looking for less-processed foods, because more natural foods are often healthier. Milk coming directly from a cow or goat is more natural than milk that goes through a pasteurization process, so it’s understandable to question if it’s healthier or degrades the nutritional benefits of milk.

Additionally, some European studies found associations between consuming farm-fresh milk and lower rates of allergies, asthma, and other immune-related conditions. Without context, this can make it seem like raw milk is a healthier choice.

What's missing?

Association and causation are not the same. While “there may be something beneficial in raw farm milk that influences allergy risk" is a legitimate scientific hypothesis, it does not mean people should drink raw milk. There could be other factors, like growing up in a rural environment in general, that could influence allergies.

The biggest issue is that raw milk has a much higher risk of becoming contaminated with disease-causing bacteria like Salmonella, E. coli, listeria and campylobacter. These pose serious risks, especially for children and pregnant women. Even careful farming practices cannot completely eliminate the possibility of contamination. Healthy animals can carry harmful bacteria without showing signs of illness, and contamination can occur during milking, storage, or transportation.

Pasteurization – one of the most successful food safety interventions ever developed – significantly reduces these risks while retaining the nutritional benefits that make milk an important source of nutrients for growing children. The European allergy studies were not nutrition studies; raw and pasteurized milk contain largely the same protein, calcium, potassium and many vitamins. If people worry that pasteurization destroys beneficial bacteria, supplementing with a probiotic is a much safer choice. The American Academy of Pediatrics has repeatedly called for a ban on the sale and distribution of raw milk products, noting that raw milk offers no proven health benefits, while the risks of serious infection are well documented.

What's at stake:

Contaminated raw milk can cause diarrhea, vomiting, stomach cramps, fever, and dehydration. In more severe cases, infections can lead to hospitalization, kidney failure, bloodstream infections, miscarriage during pregnancy, long-term complications, or, in rare cases, death.

Children, pregnant women, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems face the greatest risk of serious complications.

Bottom line:

Pasteurization retains essential nutrition while making milk much safer.

References

(CDC) Raw Milk Questions & Answers
(FDA) Raw Milk Misconceptions and Dangers
(Johns Hopkins) Raw Milk and Food Safety
(AAP) The Dangers of Drinking Raw Milk

Frequently Asked Questions

Does raw milk contain more nutrients than pasteurized milk?
Raw and pasteurized milk contain largely the same essential nutrients, including protein, calcium, potassium and many vitamins. Pasteurization does not significantly reduce the nutritional benefits that make milk an important source of nutrition for children.

Does pasteurization destroy vitamins or proteins my child needs?
No, pasteurized milk still contains the healthy nutrition that babies need. The nutrition information on the carton shows the contents of vitamin D, calcium and more.

Is raw milk actually more “natural” in a way that’s better for health?
Raw milk provides the same nutrition and has the same vitamins as pasteurized milk. So, it is not any healthier than pasteurized milk, but it is far more likely to be contaminated with dangerous bacteria.

Does raw milk strengthen the immune system?
There is no strong evidence that raw milk improves immune function or strengthens the immune system compared with pasteurized milk.

Can raw milk help prevent allergies, asthma or eczema?
Some European studies have found associations between consumption of farm-fresh milk and lower rates of allergies, asthma and other immune-related conditions. However, association is not the same as causation, and researchers continue to investigate whether other factors associated with farm life may contribute to the findings. Public health experts do not consider the evidence strong enough to recommend raw milk because of its known infection risks.

Are the probiotics in raw milk beneficial?
Raw milk may contain naturally occurring bacteria, but it can also contain harmful bacteria. There is no strong evidence that drinking raw milk provides probiotic benefits that outweigh the risks of foodborne illness. Supplementing with a probiotic is a much safer choice.

Can raw milk improve gut health?
Current research has not established that drinking raw milk provides meaningful gut-health benefits that outweigh the known risks of foodborne illness.

What are the contaminants that can cause illness with raw milk?
Salmonella, E. coli, listeria, campylobacter and more. In 2024, even bird flu was transmitted through raw milk.

What are the risks of drinking raw milk?
The pathogens can lead to severe illness, hospitalization and even death. Pregnant women risk miscarriage or transmitting infections to their babies. Children are at a high risk of dehydration and complications.

How likely is someone to get sick from raw milk?
Over the past 15 years, there have been thousands of cases that have resulted in hospitalizations â and, tragically, some deaths as well.

If the animals are healthy and the farm is clean, is raw milk safe?
Healthy animals and clean farms are important, and they can help reduce risk. However, even healthy animals can carry harmful bacteria without appearing sick, and contamination can occur during milking, storage or transportation. For that reason, no farm can guarantee that every batch of raw milk is free of disease-causing pathogens.

Are children more vulnerable than adults to illnesses from raw milk? Are babies and toddlers affected differently than older children?
Children under 5, due to their size and developing immune systems, are at the highest risk of severe consequences. But all children and even adults can face serious or even life-threatening illness.

Could raw milk cause serious illness in a healthy child?
Yes, all children â even healthy ones â can suffer serious illness from contaminated raw milk. Heating raw milk can kill harmful bacteria, but doing so consistently and safely at home can be difficult. Commercial pasteurization uses carefully controlled temperatures and processes designed to reliably reduce the risk of contamination.

What benefits of raw milk have actually been proven? If there are any, do they outweigh the risks?
To date, most claimed health benefits of raw milk have not been supported by high-quality evidence. Meanwhile, the risks of bacterial contamination are well established. For that reason, major medical and public health organizations continue to recommend pasteurized milk.

What does the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend regarding raw milk?
The American Academy of Pediatrics has called for a ban on the sale and distribution of raw milk products, citing the risk of serious infections and the lack of evidence supporting claimed health benefits

If outbreaks can happen with pasteurized milk too, why is raw milk singled out?
Foodborne outbreaks can occur with many foods, including pasteurized dairy products. However, illnesses linked to raw milk occur at much higher rates because pasteurization is specifically designed to kill bacteria that can be present in milk. While pasteurization cannot prevent every possible contamination event, it greatly reduces the risk of dangerous infections.

Why do some people say European countries support raw milk?
Some European countries allow the sale of raw milk under specific regulations, and several European studies have examined potential links between farm-milk consumption and lower rates of allergies and asthma. However, European public health authorities still recognize the risk of bacterial contamination in raw milk and continue to recommend caution, especially for children, pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems.

How can I tell which claims about raw milk are evidence-based?
A good question to ask is: “What’s the evidence?” Anyone can make a claim online, but trustworthy claims should be backed by high-quality research and supported by experts who study food safety and nutrition. When scientists evaluate raw milk, they look at both potential benefits and known risks. The evidence consistently shows that pasteurization makes milk much safer while preserving its nutritional value, which is why it remains the recommended choice for families.

Joey Korah, MD, FAAP and father of three

Pediatrician

As a pediatrician and father of three, Dr. Joey Korah understands the questions parents have about food, nutrition and keeping their children healthy. Board-certified by the American Board of Pediatrics and a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics, he has been caring for children and families since 2006. Through his work in primary care, he helps parents navigate everyday health decisions with evidence-based guidance, including topics like nutrition, food safety and childhood illness.

Full Bio