AAP: We Need a National Ban on Raw Milk

Key Points:

• The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has issued a policy statement urging a nationwide ban on the sale and distribution of unpasteurized milk and dairy products due to health risks, especially for children and pregnant people.
• Lead author Adam Ratner emphasized that raw milk is not healthier than pasteurized milk and highlighted the presence of dangerous pathogens like E. coli, listeria, salmonella, and traces of the H5N1 bird flu virus found in raw milk during the 2024 dairy outbreak.
• Although no human bird flu cases have been linked to dairy, the AAP warns that unpasteurized dairy products, including yogurt, ice cream, and aged cheeses, can still transmit infections.
• The AAP refutes claims that raw milk offers health benefits such as higher nutritional content or reduced allergic reactions, stating that pasteurization does not diminish milk’s nutritional value but effectively eliminates harmful microbes.
• The statement addresses misconceptions among consumers, particularly younger individuals in rural areas, who seek raw milk believing it to be healthier despite the documented risks.