Raw Milk in 2026: Outbreak Data, Bird Flu, State Laws, and the Farm Raids That Made Headlines

Raw milk, milk that has not been pasteurized, has become a flashpoint in debates about food freedom and food safety. Supporters say it tastes better, contains beneficial enzymes and bacteria, and should be available to people who choose it. Public health agencies warn that it can carry dangerous pathogens such as E. coli O157:H7, Salmonella, Listeria, and Campylobacter, and, since 2024, the H5N1 bird flu virus. Confrontations between regulators and raw milk farmers, including raids and court injunctions, have drawn national attention.

This article explains what pasteurization does, what research shows about raw milk risks and claimed benefits, how laws differ across the United States, what happened in prominent enforcement cases, and how the 2024 bird flu outbreak in dairy cattle changed the conversation.

Is raw milk safe to drink in 2026? Health agencies say no, especially for children, pregnant women, and older adults. Raw (unpasteurized) milk causes far more illness outbreaks per serving than pasteurized milk, mainly from bacteria like Campylobacter and E. coli, and in 2024 bird flu (H5N1) was found in raw milk from infected cows. Pasteurization kills these germs without meaningfully harming nutrition. Claimed benefits of raw milk are largely unsupported.

What Does Pasteurization Actually Do?

Pasteurization briefly heats milk to kill disease-causing bacteria and viruses while leaving its nutrition largely intact; it became standard after raw milk caused many deadly outbreaks in the early 20th century. Pasteurization heats milk to a temperature and time sufficient to kill disease-causing microorganisms, for example 161°F (72°C) for 15 seconds in the common high-temperature, short-time method. It was widely adopted in the early 20th century, when milk-borne diseases such as tuberculosis, typhoid, scarlet fever, and diphtheria were common causes of illness and death, especially among children. Pasteurization, together with improved dairy hygiene, dramatically reduced milk-borne disease.

Pasteurization causes small reductions in some heat-sensitive vitamins, such as vitamin C and some B vitamins, of which milk is not a major source, and inactivates some enzymes. Protein, calcium, fat, and most vitamins remain largely unchanged. The FDA’s overview of raw milk misconceptions addresses common claims, noting that pasteurization does not cause lactose intolerance or allergies and that pasteurized milk retains its nutritional value.

How Risky Is Raw Milk Compared With Pasteurized?

CDC data show unpasteurized dairy causes roughly 150 times more illness outbreaks per unit consumed than pasteurized dairy, and children are disproportionately affected. A CDC analysis published in Emerging Infectious Diseases in 2012 by Adam Langer and colleagues examined dairy-related outbreaks from 1993 to 2006. Among 121 outbreaks for which pasteurization status was known, 73 (60 percent) involved unpasteurized products, causing 1,571 illnesses, 202 hospitalizations, and 2 deaths. Because only a small share of the population drinks raw milk, the researchers estimated that unpasteurized products caused about 150 times more outbreaks per unit of product consumed. Three-quarters of the raw-dairy outbreaks occurred in states that permitted sale of unpasteurized products, and those states had higher outbreak rates. Outbreaks disproportionately affected people under 20, who are more vulnerable to serious complications such as hemolytic uremic syndrome, a cause of kidney failure in children infected with certain E. coli strains.

Can Raw Milk Carry Bird Flu (H5N1)?

Yes. In 2024, H5N1 avian influenza was found at high levels in raw milk from infected dairy cows, and cats that drank it died; pasteurization inactivates the virus, but raw milk from infected herds can be dangerous. In 2024, highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N1) began spreading among U.S. dairy cattle, an unexpected development that changed the raw milk debate. Infected cows shed high levels of virus in their milk. A 2024 report in Emerging Infectious Diseases by Eric Burrough and colleagues described the virus in dairy cattle and cats in Kansas and Texas; infected cattle had reduced feed intake and an abrupt drop in milk production, while domestic cats fed raw colostrum and milk from affected cows developed fatal systemic influenza. Studies by federal agencies found that pasteurization inactivates the virus, and the commercial pasteurized milk supply was considered safe.

In late 2024, California officials detected bird flu virus in retail raw milk. The Associated Press reported that Raw Farm of Fresno expanded a recall of raw whole milk and cream after the virus was found in multiple retail samples and at storage and bottling sites, and that state agriculture officials quarantined the farm and suspended distribution of its raw dairy products. No human cases linked to drinking raw milk were confirmed. The episode prompted national testing of milk supplies and renewed warnings from federal health agencies against drinking raw milk, particularly in areas with infected herds. Several raw-milk-fed cats in other states also died from H5N1.

How Raw Milk Laws Differ

Federal regulations prohibit the interstate sale or distribution of raw milk for human consumption in final package form. Within states, laws vary widely. Some states allow retail sales of raw milk in stores; others allow sales only on the farm where it is produced; some permit “herd share” arrangements, in which consumers buy a share of a cow or herd and receive milk; and some prohibit sales entirely. In recent years, several states have loosened restrictions, reflecting growing consumer demand and food freedom advocacy, while public health officials have warned that loosening laws is associated with more outbreaks. Some states also sell raw milk labeled as pet food, a practice health officials have scrutinized since the H5N1 outbreak.

Legal approach	How it works
Retail sales allowed	Licensed raw milk can be sold in stores, often with warning labels and testing requirements
On-farm sales only	Consumers buy directly from the producing farm
Herd or cow shares	Consumers own a share of animals and receive milk as owners
Pet food only	Raw milk sold labeled not for human consumption
Prohibited	No sales for human consumption

The Raid That Made Headlines

Enforcement actions against raw milk farmers have repeatedly drawn public support for the farmers and criticism of regulators. One prominent case involves Amos Miller, an Amish farmer in Pennsylvania. According to the National Agricultural Law Center, a 2016 Listeria outbreak that killed one person in Florida and sickened another in California was traced by the FDA and CDC to raw milk from Miller’s farm. On January 4, 2024, the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture executed a search warrant at the farm after being notified of illnesses from Shiga toxin-producing E. coli, and the state attorney general sued to stop his raw milk sales until he obtained a permit. Miller declined to obtain a permit, saying it would limit the products he could sell, and the court enjoined his unpermitted raw milk sales in Pennsylvania. Supporters rallied around Miller, framing the case as government overreach, while health officials emphasized the illnesses linked to his products.

Cases like this illustrate the tension between individual choice and public health protection. Food freedom advocates argue adults should be free to buy food directly from farmers; public health officials note that children, who cannot make that choice, are often the most seriously harmed, and that outbreaks impose costs on communities and health systems.

Does Raw Milk Have Real Health Benefits?

Most claimed benefits are not supported: pasteurization causes only minor nutrient losses, raw milk does not reliably help lactose intolerance, and European farm-milk allergy studies do not justify drinking raw milk given its risks. Lactose intolerance. Some raw milk drinkers report better tolerance. A 2014 randomized crossover pilot trial in the Annals of Family Medicine by Sophia Mummah and colleagues at Stanford tested this in adults with confirmed lactose malabsorption and found that raw milk did not reduce malabsorption or symptoms compared with pasteurized milk, concluding that the results did not support anecdotal claims. Raw milk contains the same lactose as pasteurized milk.

Allergies and asthma. The 2011 GABRIELA study in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology by Georg Loss and colleagues surveyed thousands of children in rural central Europe and found that reported raw farm milk consumption was associated with lower rates of asthma, atopy, and hay fever, independent of other farm exposures, while boiled farm milk showed no protective effect; the authors suggested whey proteins might play a role. These observational findings have generated scientific interest, but they cannot prove cause and effect, and because of raw milk’s infection risks, researchers are exploring minimally processed milk that preserves certain proteins while removing pathogens, rather than recommending raw milk.

Probiotics and enzymes. Raw milk contains bacteria, but these are not the same as studied probiotic strains and can include pathogens. Enzymes in milk are largely digested in the stomach like other proteins.

Nutrition. Differences in nutrient content between raw and pasteurized milk are small.

The Pathogens in Raw Milk

Milk can become contaminated on the farm through infected udders, manure, dirty equipment, or handling, even on clean, well-managed farms. The main concerns are Campylobacter, the most common cause of raw-milk outbreaks, which can occasionally trigger Guillain-Barré syndrome; Shiga toxin-producing E. coli such as O157:H7, which can cause hemolytic uremic syndrome and kidney failure, especially in children; Salmonella; Listeria monocytogenes, which is particularly dangerous during pregnancy because it can cause miscarriage, stillbirth, or severe infection in newborns; and Brucella, which has been linked to raw milk from cows that received a live vaccine strain. Testing raw milk reduces but cannot eliminate these risks, because contamination can be intermittent and pathogens can be present at levels too low to detect in a sample but still cause illness.

How Can I Reduce Risk If I Still Drink Raw Milk?

Adults who choose raw milk can buy from farms that test regularly for pathogens, keep it very cold, consume it quickly, avoid milk from herds with avian influenza, and never give it to children or pets. Public health agencies advise against drinking raw milk, especially for children, pregnant people, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems, who face the greatest risk of severe illness. Adults who choose to drink it anyway can reduce, but not eliminate, risk by buying from licensed producers with regular testing, keeping milk cold at or below 40°F, consuming it well before its date, avoiding it when bird flu has been detected in local herds, and never giving it to pets in areas with H5N1 outbreaks. Symptoms such as bloody diarrhea, fever, or reduced urination after drinking raw milk require prompt medical care.

Why Raw Milk Has Grown in Popularity

Interest in raw milk has grown alongside broader trends: distrust of industrial food systems, desire to support small farms, interest in traditional and minimally processed foods, and social media promotion by wellness influencers and some public figures. Some consumers value the taste and cream line of unhomogenized raw milk, which can also be found in pasteurized but non-homogenized milk. Food freedom arguments resonate with people who believe adults should choose what they eat. Public health officials acknowledge these motivations while emphasizing that the risks are real and fall heavily on children.

Safer Alternatives for Raw Milk Fans

People who seek some qualities associated with raw milk can find safer options. Low-temperature (vat) pasteurized milk is heated more gently and may taste closer to fresh milk. Non-homogenized pasteurized milk retains a cream layer. Milk from grass-fed cows offers a different fatty acid profile. Fermented dairy products such as yogurt and kefir made from pasteurized milk provide live cultures. Small local dairies increasingly offer these products, allowing consumers to support local farms without the risks of raw milk.

Raw Milk Cheese

In the United States, cheese made from raw milk is legal if it is aged at least 60 days, a rule intended to reduce the risk of some pathogens, though research has shown aging does not reliably eliminate all hazards, such as Listeria and E. coli in some cheeses. Many traditional European cheeses are made from raw milk under strict hygiene programs. Soft and fresh raw milk cheeses, such as some queso fresco, have been linked to outbreaks, particularly of Listeria and Brucella, and are of particular concern for pregnant people.

Key Facts at a Glance

A CDC analysis of dairy outbreaks from 1993 to 2006 found 60 percent of outbreaks with known pasteurization status involved unpasteurized products, about 150 times more outbreaks per unit consumed than pasteurized dairy. H5N1 bird flu infected U.S. dairy cattle in 2024; cats fed raw milk from infected cows died, and California found the virus in retail raw milk, prompting recalls. A 2014 randomized trial found raw milk did not reduce lactose intolerance symptoms, and the GABRIELA study found observational associations between raw farm milk and lower asthma in European children. Federal law bans interstate sale of raw milk; states set their own rules.

Common Myths

“Pasteurization destroys milk’s nutrition.” Losses are small and mostly involve vitamins milk does not supply in large amounts.

“Clean farms produce safe raw milk.” Good hygiene reduces but cannot eliminate contamination; outbreaks have occurred from well-regarded farms.

“Raw milk cures lactose intolerance.” A randomized trial found no benefit.

“Bird flu in raw milk is harmless to people.” No human cases from drinking raw milk were confirmed, but infected milk killed cats, and health officials advise against drinking it.

How Pasteurized Milk Became the Norm

In the 19th and early 20th centuries, milk was a major source of disease in growing cities, where it was often produced in crowded, unsanitary conditions and transported without refrigeration. Infant mortality was high, and contaminated milk contributed to deaths from diarrheal diseases, tuberculosis, and other infections. Public health reformers promoted pasteurization along with cleaner dairies and inspections, and cities began requiring pasteurization in the early 1900s. Milk-borne disease declined sharply as pasteurization spread. In 1987, the FDA prohibited interstate shipment of raw milk for human consumption, following a court order. This history helps explain why public health agencies remain strongly opposed to raw milk.

What Testing Can and Cannot Do

States that permit raw milk sales often require regular testing for bacterial counts and specific pathogens. Testing helps identify problems on farms but has limitations. A negative test reflects only the sample tested, and contamination can occur intermittently, so a batch can test negative while other milk from the same farm carries pathogens. Results take time, so milk may be consumed before problems are detected. Some pathogens can cause illness at very low doses. For these reasons, testing is considered a useful but insufficient safeguard compared with pasteurization.

What Bird Flu Means for Dairy and Consumers

The spread of H5N1 in dairy cattle raised broader questions for the food supply. Federal agencies tested retail pasteurized milk and found viral fragments in some samples, but tests for live virus were negative, indicating pasteurization inactivated it. The USDA began a national milk testing strategy to track infected herds. Human cases of H5N1 in the United States occurred mainly among farmworkers exposed to infected cows or poultry, usually causing mild illness such as eye infections, though severe cases have been reported. Health officials have emphasized that pasteurized milk and properly cooked meat and eggs are safe, while advising against raw milk and raw pet food made from milk or poultry from affected areas.

Questions to Ask a Raw Milk Producer

For consumers who choose raw milk despite the risks, asking questions can reduce exposure. Is the farm licensed and regularly tested, and can you see recent results? How are cows housed, milked, and screened for illness? How is milk cooled and how quickly? Has the herd been tested for H5N1? What happens if a test is positive? Reputable producers should answer these questions openly. Even with good practices, however, the risk cannot be eliminated, and children, pregnant people, older adults, and immunocompromised people should avoid raw milk.

Raw Milk for Pets

Some stores sell raw milk labeled as pet food, sometimes as a way to sell raw milk where human sales are prohibited. The 2024 bird flu outbreak highlighted risks to pets: cats on farms and in homes became severely ill or died after drinking raw milk from infected herds, and some commercial raw pet foods were recalled after H5N1 was detected. Veterinarians and public health officials advise against feeding raw milk or raw pet foods made from potentially infected animal products, particularly to cats, and note that people handling these products can also be exposed.

Key Terms

Pasteurization: Heating milk to kill disease-causing microorganisms.

Hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS): A serious complication of certain E. coli infections that can cause kidney failure, especially in children.

Herd share: An arrangement in which consumers own a share of dairy animals and receive milk.

H5N1: A highly pathogenic avian influenza virus that spread to U.S. dairy cattle in 2024.

Listeria: A bacterium that can cause severe infection, especially dangerous during pregnancy.

The Bottom Line

Raw milk remains one of the most contentious foods in America. Outbreak data show it causes far more illness per unit consumed than pasteurized milk, with children bearing much of the harm, and the 2024 spread of H5N1 bird flu in dairy cattle added a new risk. Claims that raw milk helps lactose intolerance were not supported in a randomized trial, while observational research on allergies is intriguing but unproven. State laws vary widely, and enforcement cases such as the 2024 action against a Pennsylvania farm reflect ongoing tension between food freedom and public health. People who value fresh, minimally processed milk can choose gently pasteurized or non-homogenized options that reduce risk.

Further Reading

The FDA’s raw milk pages and the CDC’s information on raw milk explain the risks and outbreak data. State agriculture departments publish rules for raw milk sales, and the National Agricultural Law Center tracks legal developments. For bird flu, the CDC and USDA provide updates on infections in dairy cattle and guidance for consumers and farmworkers. Peer-reviewed studies cited here offer detailed evidence on outbreaks, lactose intolerance, and allergy research.

A Balanced View

The raw milk debate involves real values on both sides: personal autonomy and support for small farms on one hand, and protection of children and public health on the other. Evidence clearly shows higher infection risk from raw milk, and the 2024 bird flu outbreak added a new dimension. At the same time, many raw milk consumers are adults making informed choices, and some research questions, such as whether certain milk components protect against allergies, deserve further study using safe products. Policies that allow adult choice with clear warnings, strict testing, and special protections for children are one approach some states have taken; others prohibit sales entirely. Whatever the legal framework, accurate information about risks is essential.

For Families With Young Children

Parents who drink raw milk themselves sometimes give it to their children, often believing it is healthier. Because children are more likely to develop severe complications from E. coli, Salmonella, and Campylobacter infections, pediatricians strongly advise against giving raw milk to children. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that pregnant women, infants, and children consume only pasteurized milk and milk products. Families interested in farm-fresh dairy can choose pasteurized products from local farms, which provide many of the qualities parents seek without the infection risks.

How Outbreaks Are Investigated

When people fall ill with infections linked to milk, state and local health departments interview patients about what they ate, collect samples, and use genetic sequencing to match bacteria from patients, milk, and farms. National databases allow investigators to link cases across states. Raw milk outbreaks are often detected because children are hospitalized with severe illnesses such as hemolytic uremic syndrome. Investigations can lead to recalls, suspension of sales permits, or legal action, as occurred in Pennsylvania in 2024.

Raw Milk and Social Media

Social media has amplified both enthusiasm for raw milk and public health warnings about it. Influencers and some public figures have promoted raw milk as natural and health-promoting, sometimes downplaying risks, while health agencies and physicians have posted outbreak information and safety guidance. During the 2024 bird flu outbreak, some posts claimed that drinking raw milk from infected cows could provide immunity, a claim health experts rejected as unsupported and potentially dangerous. Evaluating claims by checking the evidence, the source, and whether risks are discussed honestly helps consumers navigate these competing messages.

Economic Pressures on Small Dairies

For some small dairy farms, raw milk sales offer a way to earn higher prices than selling conventional milk to processors, at a time when many small dairies have closed because of low milk prices and consolidation. This economic reality helps explain the passion of raw milk advocates and farmers. Programs that support small-scale on-farm pasteurization, cheese making, and value-added products can help these farms thrive while reducing risk to consumers.

Looking Ahead

Raw milk policy continues to evolve. Some states are expanding sales, while bird flu monitoring and outbreak investigations keep safety concerns prominent. Research into processing methods that retain certain milk proteins while eliminating pathogens may offer a middle ground. For now, public health guidance remains clear: pasteurized milk is the safer choice, especially for children and other vulnerable groups.

Consumers who want to stay informed can follow state health department alerts, CDC outbreak notices, and USDA bird flu updates, which report detections in dairy herds and any recalls of raw milk products, helping people make timely decisions about the products they buy.

Checking these sources before buying is especially important during periods when H5N1 is circulating in nearby dairy herds.

Health care providers can also help by asking patients with gastrointestinal illness whether they consumed raw milk or raw dairy products, which aids diagnosis, guides testing for specific pathogens, and helps public health officials identify outbreaks early so that contaminated products can be removed from sale quickly, before more people, especially children, become ill from the same source.

Reporting suspected foodborne illness to local health departments, even when symptoms are mild, also helps investigators connect cases that might otherwise go unnoticed across counties and states.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is raw milk safe to drink?

Health agencies advise against it, especially for children, pregnant women, older adults, and anyone with a weakened immune system. Raw milk causes far more illness outbreaks per serving than pasteurized milk, mainly from bacteria such as Campylobacter, E. coli, Salmonella, and Listeria, which can be present even in milk from clean, healthy-looking herds.

How much riskier is raw milk than pasteurized milk?

Much riskier per serving. CDC analyses find that unpasteurized dairy causes roughly 150 times more illness outbreaks per unit consumed than pasteurized dairy, even though raw milk is a small share of consumption. Children and teenagers are disproportionately affected, and some outbreaks have caused severe illness including kidney failure from E. coli.

Can raw milk carry bird flu?

Yes. In 2024, highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza was detected at high levels in raw milk from infected dairy cows, and cats that drank raw milk from affected cows died. Pasteurization inactivates the virus, so the commercial pasteurized supply is considered safe, but raw milk from infected herds can pose a risk to people and pets.

Is raw milk more nutritious than pasteurized milk?

No meaningfully. Pasteurization causes only small losses of some heat-sensitive vitamins, and milk remains an excellent source of protein and calcium. Claims that raw milk cures lactose intolerance or offers major health benefits are not supported by evidence. European farm-milk studies suggest possible allergy benefits, but researchers recommend developing safe processed alternatives rather than drinking raw milk.

How can I reduce the risk if I choose to drink raw milk?

Health agencies still advise against raw milk, but adults who choose it can lower risk by buying from farms that test regularly for pathogens and follow strict hygiene, keeping milk at or below 40°F, drinking it quickly, and avoiding raw milk from herds where avian influenza has been found. Never give raw milk to children, pregnant women, or pets.

References

1. Langer AJ, Ayers T, Grass J, et al. Nonpasteurized dairy products, disease outbreaks, and state laws – United States, 1993–2006. Emerging Infectious Diseases. 2012;18(3):385–391. PMID 22377202
2. Burrough ER, Magstadt DR, Petersen B, et al. Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A(H5N1) Clade 2.3.4.4b Virus Infection in Domestic Dairy Cattle and Cats, United States, 2024. Emerging Infectious Diseases. 2024;30(7):1335–1343. PMID 38683888
3. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Raw Milk Misconceptions and the Danger of Raw Milk Consumption. fda.gov
4. National Agricultural Law Center. Amos Miller and the Regulation of Raw Milk. nationalaglawcenter.org
5. Associated Press via WALB. Raw milk recall expands after tests detect more bird flu virus. December 4, 2024. walb.com
6. Mummah S, Oelrich B, Hope J, et al. Effect of raw milk on lactose intolerance: a randomized controlled pilot study. Annals of Family Medicine. 2014;12(2):134–141. PMID 24615309
7. Loss G, Apprich S, Waser M, et al. The protective effect of farm milk consumption on childhood asthma and atopy: the GABRIELA study. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. 2011;128(4):766–773.e4. PMID 21875744

Last updated: October 6, 2026