Is Raw milk safe during pregnancy?
Not recommended — raw milk can carry Listeria, E. coli, Salmonella and more. Choose pasteurized milk and dairy instead.
What the sources say
CDC says raw milk and products made from it can carry germs such as Listeria, E. coli, Salmonella, Campylobacter, Brucella and Cryptosporidium, and pregnant people are at higher risk of serious illness. CDC and FDA list pasteurized milk and dairy as the safer choice, and CDC also recommends against raw milk because of the risk of H5N1 bird flu. CDC's toxoplasmosis advice includes not drinking unpasteurized goat's milk. Because these risks apply to anyone, raw milk isn't recommended while breastfeeding either.
Common alternatives
Also listed as
unpasteurized milk, farm fresh milk, raw goat milk, unpasteurized goat milk, raw cream, raw milk yogurt, raw milk kefir, raw butter, straight from the farm milk, raw sheep milk
Sources
- CDC: Raw Milk
- CDC: Safer Food Choices for Pregnant Women
- FDA: People at Risk of Foodborne Illness
- CDC: Preventing Toxoplasmosis
Last reviewed . This is general information, not medical advice. Ask your doctor or midwife about your own situation.