What is Raw Milk?

Grocery stores sell many varieties of milk: whole, 2%, low-fat, fat-free, and more. Some grocery stores and farmers markets even carry “raw” milk. What does the term “raw” mean? Is it nutritionally good for you? Is it safe? Is it legal?

Grocery stores sell many varieties of milk: whole, 2%, low-fat, fat-free, and more.
Adair P. Hoover, ©HGIC, Clemson Extension

Most milk that is sold to the public is pasteurized. Pasteurization is a sanitizing process. It is a process of heating milk to a specific temperature for a specific amount of time to reduce bacteria and other pathogens to a safe level. It doesn’t involve the use of chemicals or the addition of extra ingredients, and it ensures that your milk is safe to drink. “Raw” milk is unpasteurized, meaning it has not been heated to reduce foodborne pathogens to a safe level.

Does pasteurization affect the nutritional quality of milk? Pasteurization does not change the protein quality in milk or minerals, as minerals are resistant to heat. It doesn’t cause any losses in fat-soluble or heat-stable vitamins (Lucey JA). However, studies have shown that there may be a 10% loss in some vitamins (Lucey JA). Even ultra-pasteurization has very minor effects on milk’s nutritional composition (Lucey JA). There are no studies at this time that prove there are nutritional benefits to drinking raw milk.

Are less processed foods better for your health? This also goes along with the belief that foods from local farmers are more natural and, therefore, better for you. Some processed foods should be avoided, and your diet should be filled with nutritious foods. However, there are types of processing that are required as a protective measure and do not change the taste or nutritional value of food. This is true for pasteurization. The pasteurization of milk is a method of protection against pathogens to prevent sickness. There are multiple different time-temperature combinations to pasteurize milk; some common ones include 145.5 °F for 30 minutes, 176 °F for 25 seconds, or 275 °F for 2-4 seconds (Lucey JA). The time and temperature combination chosen depends on the type of food product. Pasteurization is similar to cooking chicken: if the chicken is cooked to 165 °F, pathogens are eliminated while nutrients remain. While it is always important to eat a balanced diet and support local farmers, safety should be the top priority.

Is raw milk a source of good bacteria that promote healthy gut flora? And what is “gut flora”? The gut flora, or gut microbiota, is an emerging topic in nutritional health. Gut microbiota is all of the microorganisms in our gut. A healthy gut microbiota helps keep our immune system active and strong, while also improving digestion. The properly developed gut microbiota can protect against obesity, diabetes, high cholesterol, and other nutritional disorders (Feed Your Gut). While it is obvious that a healthy gut microbiota is important, raw milk does not necessarily assist in developing the gut flora. Raw milk provides both good and bad bacteria. Pasteurization does not kill all bacteria and will leave some of the good bacteria behind, while cleansing the milk of bad bacteria. Studies have shown that raw milk has high numbers of Bifidobacterium, a genus of bacteria believed to exert positive health benefits (O’Callaghan A). Although Bifidobacterium is beneficial and can coexist with harmful bacteria, the presence of coliform bacteria (often associated with fecal contamination) in raw milk raises health concerns. The coliform count is often used as an indicator of sanitation or contamination, not necessarily as a direct sign of Bifidobacterium presence. So, the high levels indicate that raw milk commonly has high levels of fecal contamination (Fook Ye Chye). There are also potential antimicrobials in milk, and more than 70% remain in pasteurized milk to fight pathogens. It has been proven that these antimicrobials are not effective in reducing pathogen growth in raw milk (Fook Ye Chye).

Without pasteurization, raw milk can contain Listeria, Escherichia coli, and Salmonella. Each of these bacteria can pose serious health threats, especially to pregnant women and those with a weakened immune system. It is important to make sure all the dairy products you consume are pasteurized to prevent sickness. From 2013 to 2018, around 75 outbreaks were reported to the CDC because of raw milk consumption (CDC). This can pose a serious threat, as raw milk is unpredictable, and sickness can occur anytime.

In South Carolina, it is legal to sell raw milk for human consumption with a permit. The permit allows farmers to sell raw milk but not raw milk products like cheese or yogurt; a separate permit is required to sell the raw milk itself and to sell raw milk products. The sale of raw milk is legal on a farm and in some retail settings. The milk and milk products must be clearly labeled as non-pasteurized, and farms must be inspected every 3 months to continue to sell raw milk (Raw milk laws and regulations). Raw milk is not legal nationally; the FDA prohibits sales across state lines. States have regulatory power over the sale of raw milk, and it is prohibited in certain states (Map of State Laws).

In South Carolina, it is legal to sell raw milk for human consumption with a permit.
Adair P. Hoover, ©HGIC, Clemson Extension

References:

1. Feed your gut. Harvard Health. April 6, 2023. Accessed October 28, 2024. https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/feed-your-gut#:~:text=In%20short%2C%20your%20healthy%20gut%20microbes%20will,down%2C%20producing%20substances%20called%20short%2Dchain%20fatty%20acids
2. Fook Yee Chye, Aminah Abdullah, Mohd Khan Ayob, Bacteriological quality and safety of raw milk in Malaysia, Food Microbiology, Volume 21, Issue 5, 2004, Pages 535-541, ISSN 0740-0020,
3. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fm.2003.11.007. (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0740002003001163)
4. Lucey JA. Raw Milk Consumption: Risks and Benefits. Nutr Today. 2015 Jul;50(4):189-193.
5. Map of state laws on the sale of unpasteurized cow’s milk, 2012–2019. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Accessed October 28, 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/phlp/php/publications/unpasteurized-cow-milk.html#:~:text=Federal%20law%20prohibits%20the%20sale,the%20farm%20only%2C%20or%20prohibited
6. O’Callaghan A, Van Sinderen D. Bifidobacteria and Their Role as Members of the Human Gut Microbiota. Front Microbial. 2016 Jun 15.
7. Raw milk misconceptions and the danger of raw milk consumption. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Accessed October 28, 2024. https://www.fda.gov/food/buy-store-serve-safe-food/raw-milk-misconceptions-and-danger-raw-milk-consumption#:~:text=Raw%20milk%20can%20contain%20a,impact%20on%20milk%20nutritional%20quality
8. Raw milk. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Accessed October 28, 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/food-safety/foods/raw-milk.html?CDC_AAref_Val=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Ffoodsafety%2Frawmilk%2Fraw-milk-questions-and-answers.html
9. Raw milk laws and regulations in South Carolina. Real Raw Milk Facts. Accessed October 28, 2024. https://realrawmilkfacts.com/raw-milk-regulations/state/south-carolina#:~:text=Yes.,front%20of%20the%20raw%20milk