Raw milk vs pasteurized milk: What’s best for your child and what is the impact on health? 

Recently, on my YouTube channel, someone commented that raw milk is an appropriate substitute for children. As a pediatric dietitian, I thought this would be a perfect time to tackle this topic and explore unpasteurized milk and its safety on human health and or children.

The sale of raw milk and raw milk cheeses is increasing worldwide, especially since there is a growing demand for minimally processed, sustainable, healthy, and local foods. 

But it begs the question: Is raw milk consumption safe for children?

In this article, you’ll learn about raw milk vs pasteurized milk, and the proposed benefits and potential safety concerns of raw milk for children.

What is Raw Milk?

Often called farm fresh milk, raw milk comes straight from the cow. It is cow’s milk that is not pasteurized. 

The pasteurization process involves a heat treatment that kills harmful bacteria, like escherichia coli (E. coli). Milk is heated to high temperatures. Most of the nutrients found in raw milk are preserved during the process of pasteurization.

The potential problem with raw milk is that it may be contaminated with a variety of bacteria, including E. coli, Salmonella, Listeria, and Campylobacter. These harmful germs can cause food poisoning and serious illness, especially in young children.

Even if you go to a farm that is super conscientious about how they produce and store milk, raw milk may still get contaminated, especially at certain temperatures, when bacteria grow.

Why is Raw Milk Unsafe for Kids?

Children are more vulnerable to foodborne illnesses than adults because their immune systems are immature and not fully developed. In fact, there are studies that show children under age five are particularly vulnerable to any foods that are consumed in raw form, or undercooked, due to potential contamination with bacteria.

In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends that children avoid drinking raw milk. The public health experts at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) concur, advising children and adults avoid raw milk.

Serious Health Risks

In a 2020 study, raw milk was shown to have the highest prevalence of live and dangerous bacteria (coliform, E. Coli, and other aerobic bacteria) compared to pasteurized milk.  

The authors found that raw milk had minimal lactic acid bacteria in it, which is the probiotic that gives those health benefits to the gut microbiota. So what are the health risks associated with the consumption of raw milk?

Food Poisoning

As I mentioned, raw milk can be contaminated with bacteria. These may cause food poisoning and lead to symptoms of foodborne illness such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and fever.

Other Infections

Raw milk may also be contaminated with other pathogens, such as viruses and parasites. These pathogens can cause a variety of infections, including meningitis, campylobacteriosis, and brucellosis.

Allergic Reactions 

Some individuals may have an allergic reaction to raw milk. These reactions can range from mild to severe.

Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS)

This is a rare but serious illness that can damage the kidneys, causing kidney failure.

Are there Benefits from Raw Milk Products?

Health claims suggest that raw milk is healthier than pasteurized milk. But there is no scientific consensus on the benefits of drinking raw milk. 

Some studies have shown potential benefits, while others have found no difference between raw milk and pasteurized milk. 

More research is needed to determine if, in fact, there are real benefits to drinking raw milk.

The following are some of the reported benefits from advocates:

Improved Digestion 

Some believe the enzymes in unpasteurized milk help break down food, which may improve digestion and reduce symptoms of lactose intolerance. 

But, our bodies already make the enzymes we need to break down food. 

Increased Immunity 

Some say raw milk contains beneficial bacteria that can boost the immune system and protect against infection like respiratory infections.

Better Absorption of Nutrients 

Other believe there to be nutritional benefits. This theory follows the one that proposes enzymes in raw milk break down food. It argues the enzymes help break down nutrients, making them more easy to absorb by the body. 

Although food is broken down into nutrients for absorption, nutrients are not broken down. They are the end result of digestion, in the right form for absorption.  

Reduced Risk of Allergies and Asthma 

Some studies have shown that drinking raw milk may have a protective effect against allergies and asthma, but other studies state there’s not enough evidence to make this conclusion.

Better Skin Health 

Some say raw milk contains fatty acids that can help to improve skin health.

Overall, I’m not convinced these health benefits are solely from raw milk. They may be seen also by consuming pasteurized milk.

The Safety of Raw Dairy Products for Kids

If you are thinking about offering your child raw milk, it’s important to consider the potential risks.

And remember…

If you do purchase raw milk, it’s important to employ food safety measures. Transport it and store it in refrigeration to preserve its safety. Make sure you understand what you need to do on your end to make sure your child is safe and at minimal risk for a foodborne illness.

There’s no scientific consensus that drinking raw milk is safer, healthier, or better than drinking pasteurized milk.

The CDC and the FDA advise children not drink raw milk.

Other Raw Foods Children Should Avoid:

• Undercooked meat, poultry, and seafood
• Raw fish and seafood
• Raw eggs
• Unripe fruits
• Raw sprouts
• Foods made with raw milk like cheese and ice cream

It’s important to cook all foods thoroughly before serving them to children. This will help kill any harmful bacteria that may be present.

Resources

• Check out my YouTube video ‘Raw Milk vs Pasteurized Milk‘
• The Healthy Snack Planner for Kids