Health · Public Health & Disease · 9 hrs ago
Pediatricians warn against raw milk over infection risks
The American Academy of Pediatrics renewed its warning against raw milk in updated guidance based on published evidence.
It advises children and people who are pregnant or breastfeeding not to drink raw milk or eat raw-milk cheese.
Raw milk is not pasteurized, a process that kills harmful germs; the pediatricians found no evidence that it is healthier than pasteurized milk.
The guidance adds H5N1 bird flu as a concern, because infected cows can pass the virus into their milk, where it can remain alive for weeks.
No human H5N1 infections from drinking raw milk have been confirmed, but older bacteria have caused most reported raw-milk illness.
From 2013 to 2018, raw milk was linked to 75 US outbreaks, 675 illnesses, 98 hospitalizations and two deaths.
The academy also recommends testing for H5N1 if flu symptoms follow raw milk consumption, especially pink eye.
It says there should be no legal sale of raw milk anywhere in the United States.
The American Academy of Pediatrics advises children and people who are pregnant or breastfeeding not to consume raw milk or raw-milk cheese.
The academy says raw milk can carry dangerous bacteria and viruses, including H5N1 bird flu.
A review cited 75 US outbreaks linked to raw milk from 2013 to 2018, causing 675 illnesses, 98 hospitalizations and two deaths.
The academy’s policy statement updates its 2014 guidance and says there is no scientific evidence that raw milk is healthier than pasteurized milk.
The pediatricians also recommend against legal sales of raw milk anywhere in the United States.
- Who
- The American Academy of Pediatrics’ infectious diseases and nutrition committees issued the guidance.
- What
- The committees advise against raw milk and raw-milk cheese for children and people who are pregnant or breastfeeding. They also recommend against legal sales of raw milk in the United States.
- When
- Published October 27, 2026. The statement updates guidance from 2014.
- Where
- The guidance concerns the United States.
- Why
- Raw milk can carry dangerous bacteria and viruses, including H5N1. The academy says pasteurized dairy provides the same essential nutrients without the same preventable infection risks.
American Academy of Pediatrics
Parents who choose raw milk because they believe it is healthier or more natural
Health risks
American Academy of Pediatrics
Raw milk exposes people to preventable infections from dangerous bacteria and viruses.
Parents who choose raw milk because they believe it is healthier or more natural
Parents may choose raw milk because they have heard it is healthier or more natural.
Recommendation
American Academy of Pediatrics
Children and people who are pregnant or breastfeeding should avoid raw milk and raw-milk cheese.
Parents who choose raw milk because they believe it is healthier or more natural
Not stated
Raw milk caused 75 outbreaks in the United States, resulting in 675 illnesses, 98 hospitalizations and two deaths.
The American Academy of Pediatrics issued the guidance that the new statement updates.
An outbreak in dairy cattle led to infectious virus being found in nearly one-quarter of raw milk samples from affected states.
Earth.com published an article about the academy’s updated guidance.
- US outbreaks, 2013–2018
- 75
- Illnesses
- 675
- Hospitalizations
- 98
- Deaths
- 2
- H5N1 in refrigerated raw milk
- The virus can remain alive for up to five weeks
- Raw-milk recommendation
- Avoid it for children and people who are pregnant or breastfeeding
What people are saying
Parents may choose raw milk because they have heard it is healthier or more natural, but the scientific evidence tells a different story
Pasteurized dairy products provide the same essential nutrients without exposing children and families to preventable infections from dangerous bacteria and viruses.