Social media influencers are praising raw milk. Here's why it's dangerous for humans

The "raw milk" trend is surging again, this time mostly on TikTok.

But federal agencies have warned raw milk fans that along with the risks of bacterial contamination, you could get bird flu.

In an update last week on the bird flu outbreak in the U.S., public health officials said that recent testing on commercial dairy products detected remnants of the virus in one in five samples, although none of them contained the live virus that could make people sick.

"As this situation evolves, the FDA will continue to consider all ongoing scientific research related to the effectiveness of pasteurization for HPAI in bovine milk," the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said in a news release. "We are also committed to continued surveillance of milk production, processing and pasteurization to help ensure the safety of the milk supply."

Tests on contaminated dairy showed that pasteurization killed the bird flu virus, officials said, making it safe to consume.

States across the country have started to take another look at prohibitions against selling unpasteurized milk after a surge of testimonials from fans of raw milk — most recently content creators on TikTok — who insist it's healthier and easier to digest despite evidence that it can be dangerous to children, the elderly, or people who are pregnant or have a compromised immune system.

Last year, Florida's Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis tried some at a raw milk farm and pronounced it "delicious."

In a tweet, the state CFO said, "Something’s wrong with the way the feds regulate foods and decide what’s 'healthy.' I visited a raw milk farm; tastes delicious! But they have to say on the carton it’s not for “human consumption” cause of some federal regulation?! Stupid!"

Is raw milk better for you? Here's what you need to know.

What is raw milk?

Raw milk is simply milk from cows, sheep and goats (or any other animal) that has not been heated to a sufficiently high temperature to kill harmful bacteria, a process called pasteurization that has been used for over 100 years,

The process of heating up wine to deactivate any harmful microorganisms in it and make it last longer has been known for over a thousand years, and multiple scientists found that thermal treatment aided in food preservation. In the 1860s, French microbiologist Louis Pasteur discovered that less aggressive, briefer, less hot temperatures would work just as well, and the process was called "pasteurization" in his honor.

Routine pasteurization of milk started in the 1920s and became widespread in the 1950s, leading to "dramatic reductions" in the number of people getting sick, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said.

Is it safe to drink raw milk?

"In fact, raw milk is one of the riskiest foods," according to the CDC. "Raw milk can be contaminated with harmful germs that can make you very sick."

Turns out milk is an excellent medium if you're looking for bacteria. Raw milk and products made from raw milk, including soft cheese, ice cream, and yogurt, can be contaminated with germs from the animals, their waste or their environment such as Salmonella, E. coli, and Listeria which can cause serious illness, hospitalization, or death.

According to the CDC, improperly handled raw milk is responsible for nearly three times more hospitalizations than any other food-borne disease source.

What can raw milk do to you?

For many, drinking raw milk will have no adverse effects. But even people who have drunk plenty of it before can get sick from drinking raw milk or products made with raw milk and experience many days of diarrhea, stomach cramping, and vomiting. Some people may develop chronic, severe or life-threatening diseases, including:

• Guillain-Barré syndrome, which can cause paralysis.
• Hemolytic uremic syndrome, which can result in kidney failure, stroke, and even death.
• Bovine tuberculosis, which can cause infections in the chest, lungs, kidney, spine and brain.

Illnesses caused by bacteria from raw milk "can be especially problematic for infants, young children, the elderly, and the immunocompromised," according to the FDA. Between 1987 to September 2010, the FDA found at least 133 reported outbreaks from the consumption of raw milk and raw milk products, leading to 2,659 cases of illnesses, 269 hospitalizations, 3 deaths, 6 stillbirths and 2 miscarriages.

In 2014, two people were infected with listeriosis from raw milk distributed by a Pennsylvania dairy, one from California and one from Florida. The Florida victim died, the CDC said.

Raw milk nutrition facts: Is raw milk good for you?

Raw milk fans say it is.

"Pasteurization destroys enzymes, denatures anti-microbial and immune-stimulating components, diminishes nutrient availability, denatures fragile milk proteins, destroys vitamins C, B6 and B12, kills beneficial bacteria, promotes pathogens and is associated with allergies, increased tooth decay, colic in infants, growth and behavior problems in children, osteoporosis, arthritis and heart disease," according to A Campaign for Real Milk.

Raw milk tastes better, advocates say, and claim it contains more butterfat, no additives and it's easier to digest. And while the need for pasteurization was great in the 20th century when tuberculosis, scarlet fever and other diseases were widespread, they say that modern farming eliminates that risk.

However, according to the FDA, multiple studies have shown that pasteurization has no significant effect on the nutritional quality of milk and raw milk contains no additional benefits but many additional risks.

There is a tendency to believe that foods that have not been processed or come from small, local farms are inherently healthier, but some processing is necessary to destroy disease-causing germs, the CDC said.

Milk can get germs from an animal's poop, skin or udder, from the environment where the animal lives, from insects or rodents, from unsanitary conditions, or even from cross-contamination from dairy workers, and any of that can happen no matter how small the farm or how clean the conditions are.

Pasteurization is recommended by the CDC, the FDA, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Veterinary Medical Association, the National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians, and others.

Does pasteurized milk cause lactose intolerance?

"Lactose is a unique disaccharide found in milk," the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said in a raw milk factsheet. "Lactose concentration in bovine milk is about 4.8%. People with lactose intolerance lack the enzyme, beta-galactosidase or lactase, to break down lactose into glucose and galactose during digestion. All milk, raw or pasteurized, contains lactose and can cause lactose intolerance in sensitive individuals."

Raw milk also does not cure asthma or allergies, prevent osteoporosis, improve children's immune systems or increase gastrointestinal health any more than pasteurized milk does, the FDA said.

Is raw milk legal in Florida?

It is not illegal to drink raw milk in Florida or any other state in the U.S., but it is illegal here for anyone to sell anything besides Grade A pasteurized milk and milk products for human consumption, according to Florida Statute 502.091(1).

Cheese made from raw milk may be sold retail to the final customer or food service establishments but only if the cheese is aged more than 60 days at a temperature above 35 degrees. Raw milk may be sold as pet food from farms, markets and health stores provided it is labeled "not for human consumption."

It's not a federal regulation to prohibit or label raw milk. Federal regulations only prohibit selling or distributing raw milk and raw milk products across state lines.

What is the healthiest milk to drink?Best options for protein content and weight loss.

Are there states where it's legal to sell raw milk for humans?

Selling raw milk for human consumption is illegal in 20 states, including Florida.

Some states — not Florida —allow "cowshare" or "herdshare" agreements where consumers can purchase a "share" of a cow and are therefore partial owners and can consume its milk. Others outlaw raw milk sales but allow it directly from the farms or dairies where it is produced, with restrictions. Some states allow it with permits or licenses. According to Britannica ProCon.org, these are the current restrictions on raw milk across the country.

• Arizona allows raw milk sales for humans, with a warning label.
• Arkansas allows a certain amount of "incidental sales."
• California allows it as long as the milk meets "market milk" requirements and other regulations.
• Connecticut allows it with proper permits and health board licenses.
• Georgia passed the "Georgia Raw Dairy Act" in 2022 which allows the sale of raw milk for human consumption from producers or distributors with a state permit.
• Idaho allows it if the farmers have a raw milk permit.
• Illinois allows it if sold from the farm where the animals are located, with a permit and only within five days of production.
• Iowa allows it to be sold by a farm or dairy but may not advertise it.
• Kansas allows it from farms, provided it is labeled as ungraded raw milk.
• Kentucky allows raw goat milk to be sold, on written recommendation from a doctor.
• Maine allows it if it's labeled "not pasteurized."
• Massachusetts lets local governments decide.
• Michigan prohibits raw milk sales but allows herdshare agreements.
• Minnesota allows it for personal use from a farm or dairy.
• Mississippi allows raw goat milk to be sold directly to a consumer from the farm or dairy, with restrictions.
• Missouri allows it if the farmer has a permit.
• Montana allows it from small dairies as "homemade food" provided it is labeled as not being licensed or inspected.
• Nebraska allows it directly from a farm to the consumer.
• Nevada allows it if the producer is approved by the county milk commission. Only one county in Nevada has a milk commission and it hasn't approved anybody.
• New Hampshire allows it.
• New Mexico allows it with a permit.
• New York allows it directly from licensed farms.
• North Dakota prohibits sales but allows herdshares.
• Ohio allows it, but only from farms that have been continuously selling raw milk since before Oct. 31, 1965.
• Oklahoma allows it directly from the farm to the consumer.
• Oregon allows it from small-scale farms.
• Pennsylvania allows it, with a permit.
• Rhode Island allows raw goat milk to be sold, on written and signed prescription from a doctor.
• South Carolina allows it with a permit.
• South Dakota allows it with a license.
• Texas allows it directly from the farm to the consumer, with a permit.
• Utah allows it directly from the farm to the consumer, with a permit.
• Vermont allows it from the farm and at farmers' markets and CSA organizations.
• Washington allows it.
• West Virgina allows it.

Federal law prohibits non-pasteurized milk in its final package form from being distributed across state lines.