Raw milk: Are the health claims true and is it safe to drink?

If the hype's to be believed, raw or unpasteurised milk can do everything from boosting your immune system to preventing dairy allergies and improving digestion.

Google searches in the UK , externaland United States, external for it have increased sharply over the past 10 years. There's close to 260,000 raw milk posts tagged on Instagram and a wave of high-profile influencers promote its benefits.

So, what's got everyone so interested?

Most milk sold in the UK is pasteurised (heat-treated) to kill harmful bacteria and extend shelf life. Raw milk and cream can come from cows, sheep and goats and skips any processing, going straight from animal to bottle.

Celebrity fans such as Gwyneth Paltrow have suggested that raw milk could be easier to digest. It's also frequently lauded for its superior flavour and linked to beneficial bacteria and gut health on social media.

Lots of us drink milk because it's packed with nutrients (protein, calcium, vitamins and minerals).

Because some vitamins are heat-sensitive, some people worry that the amount present in pasteurised milk could be reduced.

But a Canadian study, external found that pasteurisation had minimal impact on milk's nutritional value, because milk is relatively low in heat-sensitive vitamins.

Pasteurisation does destroy bacteria, though, both potentially beneficial bacteria and harmful bacteria that can cause food poisoning.

One recent observational study, external on resident students of Ballymaloe Cookery School found that those who consumed raw milk and dairy products showed differences in gut microbiome composition, as well as self-reported wellbeing measures. But the study was small and cannot establish cause and effect.

But the study was small and doesn't prove that raw milk provides meaningful health benefits, and the risks from harmful bacteria remain.

Some observational studies, external, particularly involving children living in farming communities, have found an association between drinking raw milk and lower rates of asthma and some allergies.

But these studies do not establish that raw milk is responsible. There are lots of other lifestyle and environmental factors that could be at play. Researchers still caution against drinking it because of the risk of infection.

The Food Standards Agency (FSA), external in the UK classifies raw or unpasteurised drinking milk and cream as a "high-risk food product" and advises that it "may contain harmful bacteria that cause food poisoning."

They say infants and small children, the elderly, those who are pregnant and anyone with a compromised immune system "should not consume it".

"In terms of food safety, drinking raw milk is not safe," says Doctor Jorge Gutierrez-Merino, external, a senior lecturer in food microbiology.

"Raw milk may contain many different pathogenic microbes, including some deadly bacteria, which could cause fatal infections, mainly in children, the elderly and immunocompromised people."

In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, registered suppliers of raw milk are subject to strict hygiene and health and safety procedures, and regulation is regularly reviewed.

Farms are usually inspected twice a year, external and the herd must be healthy and free from brucellosis and tuberculosis.

While this reduces risk, UK health authorities continue to advise against drinking it due to the risk of serious infection.

Unlike pasteurised milk, which you'll find in supermarkets, raw cow's milk can only be sold in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, external at registered farms (at the gate, via vending machines, external or online), farmers' markets or via milk floats.

It's illegal to sell unpasteurised dairy milk in Scotland.

Originally published November 2019. Updated October 2026.

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