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By

Sophie Whitbread

  • Published15 minutes ago

If the hype's to be believed, raw or unpasteurised milk can do everything from boosting your immune system to preventing dairy allergies and improving digestion.

Google searchesin the UK,externalandUnited States,externalfor it have increased sharply over the past 10 years. There's close to 260,000 raw milk posts tagged on Instagram and a wave of high-profile influencers promote its benefits.

So, what's got everyone so interested?

Raw milk – what is it and why are people drinking it?

Most milksold in the UK is pasteurised (heat-treated) to kill harmful bacteria and extend shelf life. Raw milk andcreamcan come from cows, sheep and goats and skips any processing, going straight from animal to bottle.

Celebrity fans such as Gwyneth Paltrow have suggested that raw milk could be easier to digest. It's also frequently lauded for its superior flavour and linked tobeneficial bacteria and gut healthon social media.

Is raw milk healthier than pasteurised milk?

Lots of us drink milk because it's packed with nutrients (protein,calcium, vitamins and minerals).

Because some vitamins are heat-sensitive, some people worry that the amount present in pasteurised milk could be reduced.

But aCanadian study,externalfound that pasteurisation had minimal impact on milk's nutritional value, because milk is relatively low in heat-sensitive vitamins.

Pasteurisation does destroy bacteria, though, both potentially beneficial bacteria and harmful bacteria that can cause food poisoning.

One recentobservational study,externalon resident students ofBallymaloe Cookery Schoolfound that those who consumed raw milk and dairy products showed differences in gut microbiome composition, as well as self-reported wellbeing measures. But the study was small and cannot establish cause and effect.

But the study was small and doesn't prove that raw milk provides meaningful health benefits, and the risks from harmful bacteria remain.

Raw milk: What are the risks and why are people talking about it?

James Gallagher heads to a dairy farm to investigate the evidence and see if anything is lost in pasteurising milk.

Listen on Sounds

Does raw milk prevent allergies or asthma?

Some observationalstudies,external, particularly involving children living in farming communities, have found an association between drinking raw milk and lower rates of asthma and some allergies.

But these studies do not establish that raw milk is responsible. There are lots of other lifestyle and environmental factors that could be at play. Researchers still caution against drinking it because of the risk of infection.

Is raw milk safe to drink?

The Food Standards Agency (FSA),externalin the UK classifies raw or unpasteurised drinking milk and cream as a "high-risk food product" and advises that it "may contain harmful bacteria that cause food poisoning."

They say infants and small children, the elderly, those who are pregnant and anyone with a compromised immune system "should not consume it".

"In terms of food safety, drinking raw milk is not safe," saysDoctor Jorge Gutierrez-Merino,external, a senior lecturer in food microbiology.

"Raw milk may contain many different pathogenic microbes, including some deadly bacteria, which could cause fatal infections, mainly in children, the elderly and immunocompromised people."

In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, registered suppliers of raw milk are subject to strict hygiene and health and safety procedures, and regulation is regularly reviewed.

Farms are usually inspected twice a year,externaland the herd must be healthy and free from brucellosis and tuberculosis.

While this reduces risk, UK health authorities continue to advise against drinking it due to the risk of serious infection.

Can you legally buy raw milk in the UK?

Unlike pasteurised milk, which you'll find in supermarkets,raw cow's milk can only be sold in England, Wales and Northern Ireland,externalat registered farms (at the gate, viavending machines,externalor online),farmers' marketsor via milk floats.

It's illegal to sell unpasteurised dairy milk in Scotland.

Originally published November 2019. Updated October 2026.

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