Full Breakdown
Pediatricians Urge Nationwide Ban on Raw Milk Amid Rising Outbreaks
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event: AAP Calls for Federal Prohibition of Unpasteurized Milk
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) released a revised policy statement this week urging a nationwide ban on the sale and distribution of raw (unpasteurized) milk and other raw dairy products. The academy cites escalating disease outbreaks, especially among children, and stresses that the product poses a “highly risky” threat to public health.
Background & Context
Pasteurization—heating milk to destroy pathogens—has been standard in the United States since the late 19th century, contributing to a historic decline in infant mortality. Although a 1987 federal ban stopped interstate raw-milk sales, many states still allow intra-state sales, and a “herd-share” loophole lets consumers purchase a share of a cow and receive raw milk directly.
Raw milk’s popularity has risen, driven by wellness influencers and high-profile advocates such as Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Market research firm Circana reports a 17.6 % increase in raw-milk sales in 2024, with more than 10 million Americans now consuming it regularly.
Official Statements & Responses
AAP President Dr. Andrew Racine emphasized the academy’s duty to share “accurate, evidence-based information” and warned that marketing raw milk as beneficial for children obscures its dangers. Infectious-disease specialist Dr. Brian Dawes of Stanford echoed the call for a ban, noting children’s weaker immune systems make infections especially severe.
Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), chair of the Congressional Food-Safety Caucus, said she is taking the academy’s guidance “very seriously” and supports policies that reduce exposure to harmful foods, including warning labels on raw-milk products.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) maintains that raw milk offers no proven nutritional advantage and stresses that pasteurization remains the most reliable method for protecting public health.
Criticism & Opposition
Raw-milk producer Ben Beichler of Creambrook Farm argues that post-COVID-19 consumer “skepticism” has driven demand for alternatives to conventional dairy. He cites a 2011 Clinical & Experimental Allergy study suggesting farm milk may protect against asthma and allergy, though the study’s authors later clarified that half the milk examined was boiled and raw-milk status could not be confirmed.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., now Health Secretary, continues to advocate for raw milk, describing regulatory actions as a “war on public health.” Mark McAfee, founder of the Raw Milk Institute, maintains that raw milk retains therapeutic benefits despite FDA criticism.
On-the-Ground Reports
Investigations have linked recent illnesses to raw-milk products from multiple sources. An E. coli outbreak this year affected California, Florida, and Texas, with raw-milk cheese from the nation’s largest distributor, Raw Farm, implicated. In southern California, two girls became severely sick after consuming raw goat milk from an unregulated farm; state officials allowed the farmer to test her own milk but did not conduct independent environmental sampling.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the scale of recent outbreaks: one report cites “more than 100” illnesses and 11 hospitalizations, while another records 13 illnesses, with children comprising the majority. The identity of the third-party laboratory used by Creambrook Farm to test its milk remains undisclosed, limiting independent verification of safety claims.
What’s Next
The AAP urges pediatricians to contact state legislators and support federal action to ban raw milk.