can I eat unpasteurised milk?
Unpasteurised (raw) milk should be avoided completely during pregnancy — cow's, goat's and sheep's alike. It can carry listeria, salmonella, E. coli and campylobacter, and the risks in pregnancy comfortably outweigh any claimed benefit.
why it matters
Pasteurisation is a brief heat treatment that kills harmful bacteria without meaningfully changing milk's nutrition. Raw milk skips that step, and outbreaks traced to it are well documented. Pregnancy makes listeria infection both more likely and more dangerous, so this is an easy category to rule out.
how to have it safely
If raw milk is all that's available, boil it before use and let it cool. Otherwise, simply choose pasteurised milk — nutritionally, you're giving up nothing.
worth knowing
- This includes raw goat's and sheep's milk and anything made from them, like some artisanal yogurts and fresh cheeses.
- Farm gates, farmers' markets and health-food shops are the usual places raw milk appears — labels must state it's unpasteurised.
- UHT and filtered milk are heat-treated and completely safe.
- Claimed health benefits of raw milk aren't supported by evidence; the bacterial risks are.
common questions
Are milk alternatives like oat and almond milk safe?
Yes — commercial plant milks are heat-treated during production. They're a safe choice, though if they're your main milk, pick ones fortified with calcium and iodine.
What about raw milk cheese?
Hard raw-milk cheeses (like traditional parmesan or aged cheddar) are safe — they're too dry and acidic for listeria. Soft raw-milk cheeses should be avoided unless cooked until steaming.
also in dairy & eggs
Aligned with guidance from the NHS, FDA and WHO. This is general information, not personal medical advice — check with your midwife or doctor about your own situation. How we write.