The American Academy of Pediatrics renewed its call for a federal prohibition on the sale and distribution of unpasteurized dairy products, warning that a recent surge in raw milk consumption is exposing families to preventable, dangerous infections.
In an updated policy statement published in the journal Pediatrics, the physicians’ group emphasized that claims suggesting unpasteurized milk boosts immunity, cures allergies or treats lactose intolerance lack scientific foundation. The academy recommended that households consume only pasteurized products, noting that heat treatment eliminates harmful pathogens while retaining identical nutritional value.
Severe Pathogens and Avian Flu Concerns
Unpasteurized milk can harbor hazardous bacteria, including Salmonella, Listeria, Campylobacter, Brucella and Shiga toxin–producing Escherichia coli. Federal data showed that between 2013 and 2018, 75 separate disease outbreaks tied directly to raw dairy sickened 675 people and resulted in two deaths. Nearly half of those who fell ill were younger than 20.
Health specialists caution that the dangers are concentrated among vulnerable groups. In an academy news release, lead author Dr. Adam J. Ratner pointed out that pasteurization dramatically lowers infection risks without diminishing milk’s nutritional benefits. Coauthor Dr. Mark R. Corkins noted that families often buy raw dairy believing it is healthier, but research demonstrates pasteurized milk provides identical nutrients without infectious hazards.
The academy also highlighted avian influenza as a growing threat. During the 2024 dairy cattle outbreak in the United States, infectious H5N1 virus surfaced in roughly one-quarter of raw milk samples tested in impacted regions. Although scientists have recorded no confirmed human cases from drinking infected milk, the virus can remain viable in refrigerated raw dairy for up to five weeks and has proven fatal to animals that drank it.
Growing Demand Despite Public Health Warnings
Public health authorities have urged pasteurization since the early 20th century, helping trigger major historical declines in childhood mortality. While the Food and Drug Administration prohibited interstate commerce of raw milk in 1987, at least 27 states permit intrastate sales under varying state laws. Some producers also utilize herd-share arrangements to distribute milk directly to consumers.
Demand has expanded significantly in recent years. Circana market research indicated raw milk sales climbed 17.6 percent in 2024. Online influencers, increased skepticism toward federal health regulators and political rhetoric have fueled consumer interest. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. previously championed unpasteurized dairy and drank it publicly alongside author Dr. Paul Saladino, though he has since ceased promoting it as the Trump administration focuses instead on promoting whole milk.
That popularity has coincided with contamination events. Over the summer, more than 100 individuals suffered illness and 11 were hospitalized after drinking raw milk, NPR reported. Additionally, an E. coli outbreak tied to cheese from California distributor Raw Farm sickened consumers in three states, mostly affecting children aged three and younger.
Whether federal authorities or individual states will move toward restricting raw milk distribution remains uncertain, leaving public health organizations to confront the challenge of rebuilding trust in pasteurization standards as unpasteurized dairy products continue reaching kitchen tables.
