Although the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) located H5N1 Birds of influenza in samples of raw or non -pasteurized, four -state milk tests in April 2024, and bird flu has been detected in traded raw milk, Consumption of pasteurized milk and its products, especially for children. Eating raw milk may expose one to Salmonella; E. Coli; University; Cryptosporride; Lasteria; Bruce – And possibly, the flu of the birds H5N1.
The majority of US adults (56%) know that eating raw milk, sheep or goats is less secure than drinking pasteurized milk. But more than 4 out of 10 Americans are either not sure (25%), they believe that raw milk is “equally safe to drink” as pasteurized milk (12%) or believe it is “safer to drink” (6%), according to a recent survey by the Public Policy Center (APC). The findings remain statistically unchanged by the July 2024 APC survey. Almost one -third of people (32%) know that consumption of raw milk increases a person’s risk of food diseases, although 14% believe that it has no effect and 51% is not.
The survey, conducted January 30-February. 10, 2025, among more than 1,700 US adults, also finds that two -thirds (66%) do not know that children are more vulnerable than adults to get sick than viruses and bacteria that can occur in raw milk.
Eating raw milk and raw dairy products can make you get sick and pasteurization reduces the risk of milk transmitted by milk. Looking for the pasteurization label before buying or consuming milk or dairy products such as cheese is good practice. ”
Patrick E. Jamieson, Director, Health and Risk Institute of APPC
Influenza
Since March 10, 2025, 70 have confirmed that US cases of H5 Bird influenza have been detected in people in 13 states, almost all by exposure to infected poultry or herds of dairy products, according to CDCs (CDC). A death from the bird flu has been reported, which includes a patient in Louisiana. To date, there have been no cases of human transmission to human being.
From January 2022 to March 11, 2025, bird flu has been detected in almost a thousand dairy herds in 17 states and has affected more than 166 million poultry and wild aquatic birds, covering all states. Worldwide, according to the World Health Organization, as of January 1, 2003-DEK. 12, 2024, “954 cases of human infection with influenza A (H5N1) birds were reported by 24 countries, from these 954 cases, 464 were deadly”.
Researchers have found that mice can be contaminated with bird flu by drinking raw milk. Although the FDA is currently not aware of whether H5N1 can be transmitted to humans through eating raw milk, a mice study suggests that the virus in “unprocessed milk can infect sensitive animals that consume it”. National Institutes of Health report that this suggests that “consumption of raw milk can endanger transmission to humans”.
Raw milk and bird flu
Bird influenza in raw milk: The overwhelming majority of US adults do not know that bird flu has been detected only in raw milk, not pasteurized milk. Only 17% know that bird flu has only been found in raw milk. Two percent mistakenly say that bird flu has only been found in pasteurized milk, 7% say it has been found in both, 7% say that they have not been found more than two -thirds of respondents (68%) are not sure.
Raw milk and your chances of getting bird flu: Nearly a quarter of people (22%) say that eating raw milk increases the chances of receiving H5N1 or bird flu from 15%in July 2024, although this remains unchanged from November 2024. Birds, from 43% in November 2024.
The FDA said that by heating the milk at a certain temperature for a pasteurization of time kills harmful bacteria and viruses and that pasteurization will turn off the bird flu virus if there is raw milk.
Raw milk and health claims
AppC survey, which included non -milk drinkers, finds a small percentage of respondents (4%), who report that they consume raw or non -pasteurized milk in the last 12 months, unchanged by our research in July 2024. Another 2% were not sure if they had been consumed.
Research respondents are equally separated between those who say that raw milk has more nutrients than pasteurized milk (28%) and those who say it has about the same amount of nutrients (28%). Forty percent is not certain. The FDA says pasteurization kills pathogens in raw milk “without a significant effect on the nutritional quality of milk”.
Candidates for raw milk have made many claims about health benefits – but FDA has categorized some of them as misconceptions as they are explained here (Current from March 5, 2025). Although minorities believe in these allegations, research finds that many more people – about half of us adults or more – are not sure if claims are true or false:
- Bone dilution (osteoporosis): About 1 in 4 people (26%) believe that raw milk is “about as effective” as pasteurized milk to prevent osteoporosis, although 10% believe that raw milk is more effective and 59% is not certain. The FDA says raw milk is not more effective than pasteurized milk to prevent osteoporosis.
- Lactose intolerance: 40% believe that it is false to say that regular consumption of raw, non -pasteurized milk cures lactose intolerance. But 10% mistakenly say this is true and 50% is not sure. The FDA says raw milk does not cure lactose intolerance.
- Asthma: 39% believe it is false to say that regular consumption of raw milk reduces asthma symptoms, but 7% believe it is true and 54% are not certain. The FDA says raw milk does not heal or heal asthma and allergy.
- Immune system: 30% believe it is false to say that regular consumption of raw milk reinforces the human immune system, but 23% believe it is true and 47% are not certain. The FDA says raw milk “is not an immune system that creates food and is particularly unsafe for children”, which is usually more vulnerable to raw milk than adult milk.
- Childish vulnerability to the disease: About a third (35%) know that children are usually more vulnerable than adults to get sick of the viruses and bacteria that can occur in raw milk. But 5% mistakenly believe that they are less vulnerable, 16% believe they are “about so vulnerable”, and 45% are not sure.
Government regulation of raw milk
The FDA has banned the transnational sale of raw milk since 1987, but 30 states in the United States allow it to sell in some form, according to the FDA. Research respondents were asked about their views on the government’s sales and sellers of raw milk:
Transnational sales of raw milk: Nearly a quarter of respondents (24%) favor the transnational sale of raw milk and a slightly larger group (28%) opposes the statistically unchanged since September 2024.
Sales of raw milk in a state: Nearly a quarter (24%) favors the unlimited sale of raw milk to the state in which another quarter (25%) live that the sale of raw milk should be banned, in addition to farmers selling their own dairy products. Fourteen percent says that the sale of raw milk should be banned in their states and 37% are not sure.
Government invasion: Nearly a third (32%) agree that the federal government’s federal government regulations are “another example of unnecessary government in human life”, while a similar number (34%) disagree. A third (33%) neither agree nor disagree.
The rights of raw milk sellers: One quarter (25%) agrees that state laws prohibiting raw milk violate the constitutional rights of raw milk sellers, while a third (34%) disagree with both 41%neither agree nor disagree. (Asked for a random half sample.)
Warning labels: Above half (56%) do not believe that state laws that require labels in raw milk containers warning of the risks of consumption of raw milk violate the constitutional rights of the salespeople of raw milk, while 14% believe that 14% believe. Nearly one third (30%) neither agree nor disagree. (Asked for a random half sample.)
USDA test of raw milk: Asked how many of the states the US Department of Agriculture is testing raw milk for bird flu virus, 74% is not sure. Two percent say “no one”, and one quarter of respondents say either “some” (10%), “most” (9%), or “all” (5%). Since January 8, 2025, USDA reports that the National Milk Strategy has registered 28 states, representing almost 65% of nation’s milk production.
AppC’s AppC Science and Public Science Research
The survey data comes from the 23rd wave of a national representative group of 1,716 US adults held for the SSRS Public Policy Center, an independent market research company. Most have been infected with April 2021. In order to take into account the wear and tear, replacement samples have been added over time using a random probability sampling plan. The most recent replenishment, in September 2024, added 360 respondents to the sample. This wave of research Annenberg Science and Public Health Knowledge (Asaph) took place on January 30-February. 10, 2025. The margin of sampling error (MOE) is ± 3.4 percentage points at 95%trust level. All numbers are rounded to the nearest integer and cannot add to 100%. Combined subcategories may not add sets to the top line and the text due to rounding.
