General Discussion

Is raw, unpasteurized milk safe to drink?
No, it is not. The CDC and FDA warn against the consumption of raw milk. It is also the AMA’s position that all milk sold for human consumption should be pasteurized.

Raw milk can be a source of foodborne illness, says the CDC. And while good practices on farms can help reduce milk contamination, it does not guarantee it is safe from germs. Drinking or eating products made from raw milk can expose people to germs such as Campylobacter, Cryptosporidium, E. coli, Listeria, Brucella and Salmonella.

Between 1998 and 2018, raw milk was linked to more than 2,500 hospitalizations and three deaths, according to the CDC and FDA. But “since the early 1900s, pasteurization has greatly reduced milk-borne illnesses.”