Why drinking raw milk can be dangerous for your health

Milk and dairy products are essential for overall health as they provide vital vitamins and minerals needed for bone health, improving digestion and cell repair. However, in India, a common practice like drinking raw milk has been under the radar for a while now, especially among experts.

While in many regions of the country, drinking raw milk is considered to be a natural food with a superior nutrient profile containing more amino acids, antimicrobials, vitamins, minerals and fatty acids, experts have opposed this view, suggesting that drinking raw milk could be dangerous for health.

HARMFUL EFFECTS OF DRINKING RAW MILK

In India, the standard of milk consumption consists of getting milk straight from the farm and boiling it before drinking. However, of late, drinking unpasteurized milk has been gaining traction, especially from social media trends.

Many people believe that raw milk does not cause lactose intolerance because it contains lactase secreted by "beneficial" or probiotic bacteria present in raw milk. Probiotics are beneficial for maintaining a gut microbiome, which means healthy digestion.

However, studies including the US Food Drug and Administration (FDA) have revealed that raw milk does not contain probiotics. In fact, there are several health risks attached to drinking raw milk.

Raw milk contains several kinds of bacteria, such as E.coli, Coliform bacteria, salmonella, listeria, and staphylococcus, among others. For milk to be fit for consumption, these pathogens should be eliminated.

• E. coli – This bacteria causes enteritis, urinary infection etc., when it exceeds the threshold level. It should be absent in the milk.
• exceeds the threshold level. It should be absent in the milk.
• Coliform bacteria – Its presence indicates an unhygienic manufacturing process.
• Salmonella – It causes food poisoning and typhoid.
• Listeria – causes Listeriosis infections which may create symptoms such as fever, vomiting, diarrhoea, lethargy, and difficulty breathing.
• Staphylococcus – It causes food poisoning, diarrhoea and gastritis.

According to the government of India, raw milk should be boiled as early as possible so that it kills the bacteria present.

Dr Vibhu Kawatra, Senior Consultant Pulmonologist Pediatrician, Vibhu Nursing home, New Delhi, "Raw milk is not recommended for drinking because it can carry bacteria like E. coli, Salmonella, Listeria, and Campylobacter, which can cause serious gastrointestinal infections. It can also contain pathogens that lead to food-borne illnesses and pose health risks, particularly for children, the elderly, and pregnant women."

Dr Kawatra added that prolonged consumption of raw milk can harm the kidneys, leading to E. coli-related infections and even kidney failure.

Dr Cyriac Abby Philips aka The Liver Doc, in a recent post on X, urged people not to drink raw milk many of the bacterial infections in it aren't easily treatable. "Some of them can ruin your life (eg: Listeria can attack the brain and repeatedly give your child seizures) or kill you (severe Salmonella infection can lead to shock and shut down the heart and brain in limited time)," Dr Philips wrote in his post.

According to the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), "The germs in raw milk can be especially dangerous to people with weakened immune systems (such as transplant patients and individuals with HIV/AIDS, cancer, and diabetes), children, older adults, and pregnant women."

Drinking raw or unpasteurized milk can cause vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal pain including flu-like symptoms.

Pasteurization is essential to make milk safe. Additionally, a lot of unregulated milk production in the country involves the use of chemicals, which is concerning. "It's best to buy pasteurized milk from reputable sources and boil it before consuming," underscored Dr Kawatra.