Medical Contraindications to Milk Consumption

Unpasteurized (Raw) Milk Contraindications

Pregnant women, fetuses, newborn infants, infants, and children should completely avoid unpasteurized milk and milk products due to significant risk of foodborne illness 2, 3
Immunocompromised individuals, including those with HIV, should avoid unpasteurized dairy products due to increased risk of serious infections 4
Raw milk consumption is associated with multiple serious pathogens including bacterial infections: E. coli O157, Campylobacter species, Salmonella species, Listeria monocytogenes, Brucella abortus, and tuberculosis 3
Raw milk consumption is associated with multiple serious pathogens including parasitic infections: Giardia species 5
Raw milk consumption is associated with multiple serious pathogens including viral infections: Norovirus, Rabies, Vaccinia 5

Between 1998-2009, consumption of raw milk products in the US resulted in 93 illness outbreaks, 1837 illnesses, 195 hospitalizations, and 2 deaths 3
79% of these outbreaks involved at least one person younger than 20 years 3
From 1993-2006, 60% of dairy-associated foodborne illness outbreaks were linked to unpasteurized products, causing 1571 cases, 202 hospitalizations, and 176 deaths 3

Claims linking pasteurized milk to autism, allergies, and asthma are based on anecdotes and not supported by scientific evidence 5
Failing to recognize that pasteurized milk maintains equivalent nutritional value compared to raw milk 5