While raw milk seems attractive for its natural origins, did you know that it carries important health risks? Unpasteurized milk from cows, sheep or goats can contain harmful bacteria and germs that pose serious health problems. Although pasteurization (a heating process that kills pathogens) makes milk safe, raw milk skips this step, leaving consumers vulnerable. This is everything we need to know about the dangerous side effects of drinking raw milk and why experts warn against consuming it.

Bacterial infections that cause food poisoning.

Raw milk is known to carry harmful bacteria such as Salmonella, E. coli, and Campylobacter, all of which can cause serious illness. food poisoning. Consuming these germs can cause nausea, diarrhea, stomach pains, and fever. These symptoms not only disrupt daily life, but can also be serious, especially in young and older adults. According to the CDC, raw milk has been linked to multiple outbreaks of foodborne illnesses.

Risk of listeriosis in pregnant women

Pregnant women are especially vulnerable to the dangerous listeria bacteria, which is also present in raw milk. A Listeria infection, also known as listeriosis, can cause serious pregnancy problems, such as miscarriages, premature births, and even stillbirth. He strongly recommends pregnant women avoid raw milk completely because this virus can have life-threatening effects on the fetus.

Serious illnesses for people with weakened immune systems

People with weakened immune systems (such as transplant recipients, people with HIV/AIDS, cancer patients, and the elderly) are very susceptible to infections from raw milk. Because their immune defenses are weak, consuming unpasteurized milk can lead to serious illness, hospitalization, or even death. For them, raw milk represents an unnecessary risk, as even a small amount of harmful bacteria can cause serious infections.

Potential for chronic health problems.

Some people may later develop serious medical conditions as a result of bacterial infections from raw milk. For example, Campylobacter can cause Guillain-Barré syndrome, a rare but dangerous disease in which the immune system points to the nerves. This can cause paralysis that needs constant attention. Drinking raw milk is discouraged as the long-term consequences of foodborne infections can be serious.

High risk for young children

Children are at especially high risk when it comes to consuming raw milk because their immune systems are still developing. In fact, the CDC finds that foodborne illnesses caused by raw milk especially affect children and adolescents. Symptoms of bacterial infections in young children can worsen quickly and often require hospitalization. Given these risks, parents should completely avoid giving raw milk to children, as it can lead to serious and life-threatening infections.

Why is pasteurization required?

Pasteurization is a process named after the scientist Louis Pasteur. It is a process by which milk is boiled to a specific temperature that kills harmful bacteria and makes the milk safe for consumption. While some believe that raw milk retains more nutrients, the benefits of pasteurization are believed to far outweigh any minimal nutrient loss. This simple step has saved countless lives and remains essential to ensuring milk safety.