Is raw milk safe?
Last updated September 3, 2026.
The CDC is blunt: pasteurization is what makes milk safe, and raw milk can carry Campylobacter, E. coli, Listeria, Brucella, Salmonella, and Cryptosporidium. Consequences range from days of vomiting and diarrhea to kidney failure and pregnancy loss, with children under 5, adults over 65, pregnant women, and immunocompromised people at highest risk. The nutrition claims for raw milk do not survive scrutiny, and the CDC's bottom line: pasteurized milk gives you the nutrition without the pathogens. If you drank raw milk and got sick, name it to your doctor so they test for the right germs.
What to do
- Choose pasteurized milk and dairy; same nutrition, no pathogens.
- Keep raw milk away from children, pregnant women, and older adults entirely.
- Do not trust farm freshness as safety; clean farms still produce contaminated milk.
- Tell your doctor about raw milk if you develop diarrhea, fever, or cramps after drinking it.
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