Raw milk has become a more common topic in conversations recently. Some people say it’s healthier, more natural, or better for your immune system, and some disagree. It can be hard to know what’s true and what’s just something you heard from a friend or online.
To help clear things up, Dr. Katie Hryniewicz, Pediatrician at Pullman Regional’s Palouse Pediatrics, and Dr. Benjamin Adkins, Family Medicine Physician at Pullman Family Medicine, are sharing what we know from research and what families should consider before choosing raw milk.
Raw, or unpasteurized, milk often gets attention as a “healthier” option. As physicians who care for kids and adults in our community, Dr. Adkins and Dr. Katie understand why families want to make the best choices possible. Here are five important things to consider.
While you may have heard that raw milk has more vitamins or “good” enzymes than pasteurized milk, the research doesn’t support that myth. Pasteurizing milk simply means you’re heating it to a high enough temperature to kill harmful bacteria. It does not remove the important nutrients; protein, calcium, healthy fats, and most vitamins remain unchanged with heat.
Dr. Adkins cautions that “from a nutrition standpoint, pasteurized milk gives you the same benefits as raw milk just without the added risk of infection.”
Some studies show that kids who grow up on farms have lower rates of asthma and allergies. In some of those studies, children drank what the studies called “farm milk,” which is usually raw. Dr. Katie says that this doesn’t prove raw milk is the reason for lower allergies. “We must always be cautious with correlation vs causation. Kids on farms are also around animals early in life,” she says. “They typically spend more time outdoors, breathe different air, and may eat differently. All of those things could play a role with allergies.”
There is no strong medical evidence that raw milk improves the immune system or prevents allergies. Being exposed to harmful bacteria does not “train” your immune system in a helpful way; it only increases your risk of getting sick. “This would be like saying not washing your hands after using the toilet will boost your immune system," says Dr. Adkins. “It doesn’t.” Young children, pregnant women, older adults, and people with weaker immune systems are at higher risk of serious illness from foodborne bacteria, like what’s found in raw milk.
Both raw and pasteurized milk contain lactose, which is the natural sugar in milk. People who are lactose intolerant don’t make enough of the enzyme needed to break down lactose. Raw milk does not add that missing enzyme. If someone is lactose intolerant, lactose-free dairy products or non-dairy options are safer and more digestion friendly choices than raw milk.
When it comes down to it, raw milk is a perfect place for bacteria to grow. Even if cows are healthy and farms are careful, bacteria can still get into milk during milking or storage. Raw milk has been linked to infections from bacteria like E. coli, Salmonella, Listeria, and Campylobacter.
Dr. Adkins notes that “raw milk has about 30 times higher risk of causing illness compared to pasteurized milk.” These infections can cause severe diarrhea, stomach pain, fever, and dehydration. In young children, complications can become serious and may even affect the kidneys.
Pasteurization was created for one main reason: to make milk safer to drink while preserving its nutritional value. “Even if future research showed some benefit, it would still need to be weighed against the known risks of raw milk,” says Dr. Katie.
Anyone with questions about consuming raw milk should consult their primary care physician (PCP). If you do not have established care with a PCP, you can call Pullman Family Medicine at (509) 332-3548, or, for patients under 18, establish care at Palouse Pediatrics in Pullman or Moscow by calling (509) 332-2605 or (208) 882-2247.