The American Academy of Pediatrics renewed its call for a U.S. ban on the sale or distribution of unpasteurized milk and dairy products, saying these foods pose particular risks to pregnant people and children. Its updated policy statement, published October 5, 2026, also recommends that those groups choose pasteurized dairy.
The statement is a professional policy recommendation, not a change in federal law or a nationwide ban. The AAP said its position reflects the illness burden linked to raw dairy, the risks for pregnant people, fetuses, newborns and children, and evidence that pasteurization does not reduce milk’s nutritional value.
What the evidence says about consumption
The policy statement cites U.S. survey data from 2016 and 2019, when 4.4% of adults said they had consumed raw milk at least once in the previous year. That figure offers a measure of past consumption, but does not show whether use has increased in recent years.
Advocates have pressed to expand access to raw milk, but advocacy and availability do not, on their own, establish a nationwide rise in consumption or sales. The research available for this article also did not verify claims of record industry growth.
That distinction matters because the claim that raw milk is becoming increasingly popular goes beyond the evidence identified in the policy statement. The available survey results show that some adults reported consuming it, but they do not provide a recent trend line.
Recent outbreak adds to safety concerns
A multistate E. coli outbreak investigated by federal and state authorities involved nine cases across three states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s final update on April 30, 2026. The agency said the outbreak was over.
All eight patients interviewed by investigators reported consuming or being served unpasteurized milk or cheese. Seven of the patients who knew the brand reported Raw Farm products. CDC said epidemiologic and laboratory evidence indicated that Raw Farm products may have been contaminated and may have caused the illnesses.
Three patients were hospitalized, including one who developed hemolytic uremic syndrome, a serious condition noted in the CDC investigation. The agency’s wording leaves the product’s role qualified: it described the products as a possible source, rather than stating that they were definitively responsible.
The outbreak is relevant to the AAP’s concern about raw dairy, but its findings should not be generalized beyond what investigators reported. The CDC update documents a specific outbreak and the patients’ reported exposures; the AAP’s policy recommendation draws on a broader assessment of illness burden and risk to vulnerable groups.
Who the AAP says faces particular risk
The AAP’s statement focuses on pregnant people and children, as well as fetuses and newborns. It recommends pasteurized dairy for these groups and calls for a ban on the sale or distribution of unpasteurized milk and dairy products, including some raw cheeses.
The recommendation reflects the group’s assessment that raw dairy can cause illness and that the potential consequences are especially concerning for these populations. The AAP also argues that pasteurization does not diminish milk’s nutritional value, addressing a commonly relevant consideration in choosing between raw and pasteurized products.
The statement does not itself impose restrictions on sellers or consumers. Any legal change would require action beyond the publication of a professional policy statement.