The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) renewed its call on October 5, 2026, for a ban on the sale and distribution of raw milk and raw dairy products. Its practical advice for families is straightforward: choose dairy labeled pasteurized. The AAP says claims that raw milk offers superior health benefits are not supported by scientific evidence, while unpasteurized dairy can carry pathogens that cause serious illness. “Anti-science rhetoric” is a characterization of the wider debate, not wording attributed to the AAP.
What the AAP recommends
The AAP’s updated policy statement recommends that pregnant people, breastfeeding parents, infants, children, adolescents and young adults consume only pasteurized milk and milk products. The recommendation covers dairy from cows, goats and sheep. The statement, written by the AAP Committees on Infectious Diseases and Nutrition, updates guidance last provided in 2014 and reaffirmed in 2025. Read the policy statement in Pediatrics.
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Raw milk is milk that has not undergone pasteurization. The AAP says pasteurization does not remove milk’s essential nutritional value, and that pasteurized dairy provides those nutrients without the additional infection risk associated with raw products. The AAP’s family guidance on raw-milk dangers also advises choosing pasteurized dairy.
Why unpasteurized dairy can be dangerous
Unpasteurized milk may carry Listeria, E. coli, Salmonella, Campylobacter or Brucella. Infections caused by these pathogens can lead to hospitalization, life-threatening illness, miscarriage or death. Children, pregnant people and people with weakened immune systems face particular concern; FDA guidance also identifies older adults as especially vulnerable. FDA guidance explains the risks of raw milk.
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Children and pregnancy deserve particular caution
For children, foodborne illness can become serious, and the AAP includes children through young adulthood in its recommendation to choose pasteurized dairy. During pregnancy, the AAP says listeriosis incidence is estimated to be 12 to 14 times higher than in the general population. The concern is not limited to a pregnant person’s symptoms: infection can also threaten the pregnancy.
H5N1 has been detected in raw milk samples
During the 2024 U.S. dairy outbreak, infectious H5N1 was detected in nearly one-quarter of raw milk samples collected in affected areas, according to the AAP’s October 2026 update. The AAP reported no confirmed human cases of H5N1 infection from consuming raw milk to date, while calling the virus a credible emerging threat. Detection in samples is evidence of contamination risk; it is not evidence that those samples caused confirmed human infections.
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Historical outbreak figures are not current-year totals
CDC surveillance data summarized by the AAP recorded 202 outbreaks linked to raw milk during 1998–2018, associated with 2,645 illnesses and 228 hospitalizations. These figures describe that historical period, not a count for 2026 or a current annual rate. The AAP’s raw-milk fact check provides the surveillance context.
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| Type | Pathogen exposure | Nutrition, according to the AAP |
|---|---|---|
| Unpasteurized dairy | Can carry pathogens that cause serious illness. | Claims of superior health benefits are not supported by scientific evidence. |
| Pasteurized dairy | Avoids the additional infection risks associated with raw dairy, according to the AAP. | Retains essential nutrients, according to the AAP. |
This is a category-level safety comparison, not a ranking of brands or a claim that every food carries identical risk. The AAP’s point is that raw dairy adds infection risk without an established nutritional advantage.
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What the AAP says about health claims
Raw-milk advocates may describe it as healthier or more natural. The AAP disputes the health-benefit claim, saying the scientific evidence does not support it and that pasteurized dairy supplies essential nutrients. Mark R. Corkins, MD, FAAP, a co-author of the policy statement, said: “Parents may choose raw milk because they have heard it is healthier or more natural, but the scientific evidence tells a different story.” He added: “Pasteurized dairy products provide the same essential nutrients without exposing children and families to preventable infections from dangerous bacteria and viruses.” The AAP’s October 5, 2026 update includes the statements.
The Associated Press reported on April 29, 2026, that raw-milk advocacy and legislative efforts were increasing, while public-health experts warned about illness risks and supporters promoted benefits the report described as unproven. That reporting describes the debate at that time; it is not a substitute for current law or public-health surveillance. Read the Associated Press report.
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A proposed ban is not the same as current law
The AAP’s call for a ban is an organizational policy recommendation. It should not be mistaken for a blanket statement about what is legal in every state.
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How families can apply the guidance
- Choose milk and dairy products labeled pasteurized, particularly for children, pregnant people and anyone with a weakened immune system.
- Do not treat “natural” or claimed health benefits as proof that raw dairy is safer or more nutritious; the AAP says the evidence does not establish superior benefits.
- For questions about a specific product or a person’s health risks, ask a clinician or local public-health authority.
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