Doctors Oppose Raw Milk for Kids

Raw milk is not safe for infants, children and pregnant women, a group of children’s doctors says. The American Academy of Pediatrics is urging parents not to let their children drink milk that is not pasteurized or eat most raw-milk cheeses. Pregnant women also should avoid these products, the group said. The doctors’ group also called for a ban on sale of raw milk. The reason is that raw milk can contain germs that cause human illness. Such illnesses were common before pasteurizing milk become widespread in the 1920s. Today, the movement toward local and natural foods has made raw milk more popular. But drinking raw milk has led to about 150 to 200 illnesses each year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says. Most are stomach illnesses caused by bacteria such as E. coli and salmonella. Some cases lead to severe illness and even kidney failure.