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Is raw milk good for you?

No, health authorities say raw milk is not safer or more nutritious than pasteurized milk, and it carries a real risk of serious infection, especially for kids and pregnant people.

Selling raw milk is illegal in Canada because of documented outbreaks of E. coli, Salmonella and Listeria linked to it.

Strength of evidence

Strong

Based on Canadian and international public health guidelines, outbreak surveillance data, and a peer-reviewed case report, all pointing the same direction.

What the evidence says

Raw milk is milk straight from the cow or goat that hasn't been heated to kill germs. Some people think it's healthier than regular milk, but the science doesn't back that up. Heating milk (pasteurization) keeps almost all the nutrients the same while killing dangerous bacteria.

Raw milk can carry bacteria like Salmonella, E. coli and Listeria. These germs can cause bad stomach illness, and in serious cases, kidney failure or even death. Health Canada has banned the sale of raw milk since 1991 because of these risks.

Kids, pregnant people, older adults and anyone with a weaker immune system are most at risk. Their bodies have a harder time fighting off these germs if they get sick. A Canadian medical report described an eight-year-old who got severe kidney damage after drinking raw milk contaminated with E. coli.

Some families believe raw milk tastes better or feels more natural, and that's a personal choice for adults who understand the risk. But for children, doctors and health agencies agree pasteurized milk gives the same good nutrition without the danger.

If you're buying milk at a farm or farmers market, always check that it says pasteurized on the label. If you're not sure, it's safest to skip it.

Sources

✓Reviewed by CH, MD, FRCPC

Reviewed by a specialist physician certified by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, who has read this answer against the sources listed above and confirmed it reflects them. That is not medical advice about your child. How we review

Answer checked August 13, 2026

Educational information only. Not medical advice, not a diagnosis, and no doctor-patient relationship is created by using this. Founded Parent has not examined your child and does not know their history, so this may not apply to you. In an emergency, call your local emergency number. What Founded Parent cannot do

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