Is raw milk safe?
May 16, 2025
Medically Reviewed | Last reviewed by Patricia Rosemond on May 16, 2025
Most milk found in grocery stores in the United States undergoes a type of processing called pasteurization. Technically, this makes milk a processed food. But while ultra-processed foods are linked to health issues, processed food doesn¡¯t always mean unhealthy. In some cases, processing even makes food safer!
Take milk, for example. Since milk pasteurization became the norm over 100 years ago, it¡¯s ¡°greatly reduced milk-borne illnesses,¡± the writes.
Here, Senior Clinical Dietitian Patricia Rosemond explains pasteurization, the risks of drinking unpasteurized, or raw, milk and advice for adding dairy to your diet during cancer treatment.
Key takeaways:
- Pasteurization involves heating milk to kill any harmful bacteria that could be present.
- Drinking raw milk puts you at risk for illnesses caused by these bacteria, especially if you have a weakened immune system.
- Pasteurizing milk doesn't remove nutrients.
- Raw milk isn't proven to help with allergies or other health concerns.
Pasteurization removes harmful bacteria from milk
During the pasteurization process, milk is heated to a specific temperature for a set time, the (FDA) writes.
¡°When that's happening, it's killing off any harmful bacteria that can be in the milk,¡± Rosemond says.
The FDA writes that pasteurization kills the bacteria that can cause diseases including:
- Brucellosis
- Campylobacteriosis
- Diphtheria
- Listeriosis
- Salmonellosis
- Tuberculosis
- Typhoid fever
The health risks of drinking raw milk aren¡¯t limited to the person who drinks it. This is because bacteria like E. coli can spread from person to person. Between 1987 and 2010, raw milk and raw milk products caused 133 illness outbreaks, some of which were deadly, according to the FDA.
¡°With raw milk, since it hasn't been pasteurized, harmful bacteria could be in the milk, which would put anyone at risk of foodborne illnesses such as E. coli," Rosemond says. ¡°It's not something I think people should try to take a chance on.¡±
Drinking raw milk also puts you at risk of getting bird flu. This is because the virus multiplies in the udders of infected cows and gets into their milk. Pasteurization takes away this risk.
RELATED: 7 questions about bird flu, answered
Raw milk and pasteurized milk have the same nutrients
While pasteurization kills harmful bacteria in milk, it doesn¡¯t remove nutrients. Rosemond says raw milk and pasteurized milk have the same nutritional profile.
¡°It does not change the nutrient content of the milk,¡± she says.
Raw milk doesn¡¯t have added health benefits
Some people believe that drinking raw milk may help with health concerns, including allergies and illnesses. However, these claims are not evidence-based. Additionally, pasteurized milk doesn't cause lactose intolerance or milk allergies, according to the FDA.
Raw milk isn¡¯t safe for anyone, especially people with cancer
Cancer patients and those with weakened immune systems should avoid raw milk and dairy products made with raw milk. These products may contain harmful bacteria that can cause health problems, Rosemond says.
¡°Your immunity is not as strong, so if you were to ingest a milk that has potential bacteria in it, that can put you at risk of becoming ill or even getting admitted to the hospital because of your body not being able to fight off that bacteria that can be lingering in the milk,¡± she says.
But that doesn¡¯t mean you need to avoid dairy entirely if you¡¯re undergoing cancer treatment. Milk is a good source of nutrients, including calcium, protein and vitamin D. It can also help patients stay hydrated, Rosemond notes.
RELATED: 5 things to know about dairy and cancer risk
When choosing milk, pick a pasteurized, plain option that doesn¡¯t have added sugar.
Deciding which milkfat content to choose can be slightly trickier. Low-fat milk options like skim or 1% are good choices for many patients due to their lower saturated fat and calorie contents. However, some patients may need more calories due to treatment side effects; in that case, whole milk may be a good choice.
Not sure which option is right for you? Ask a dietitian. All MD Anderson patients have access to a registered dietitian who can provide them with nutritional guidance.
or call 1-877-632-6789.
It's not something I think people should try to take a chance on.
Patricia Rosemond
Senior clinical dietitian