While milk and dairy products provide essential nutrients, consuming raw or unpasteurized milk can pose serious health risks. Recently, a health professional known as "The Liver Doc," sparked a heated discussion on X (formerly Twitter) regarding the dangers of raw milk. In his post, the hepatologist cautioned against consuming raw milk or offering it to children, revealing that it can harbour harmful bacteria such as E. coli, Salmonella, and Listeria, which can lead to severe health issues.

He also emphasised the importance of pasteurization, stressing that it was introduced "for a reason" to safeguard public health. “Sincere request. Please do not drink and do not feed your kids raw milk. This looks and sounds cool because it feels like you are doing it the natural way like our ancestors did and all, but remember that our ancestors lived a very long life of 25-30 years, mostly. Raw milk can contain dangerous bacteria such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Salmonella, E. coli, Campylobacter, Staphylococcus aureus, Yersinia, Brucella, Coxiella and Listeria. H5N1 avian influenza ("bird flu") virus has been found in raw milk from cows infected with H5N1 influenza virus,” his post read.

“These are not your run-of-the-mill infections. 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 a limited time). Pasteurization was discovered for a reason. Read more on why raw milk is not good for you and your children,” the post further read.

Pasteurization heats milk to a specific temperature for a set period, effectively killing pathogens without compromising nutritional content. He urged people to recognize that pasteurization “was discovered for a reason” and remains essential for consumer safety.

Raw milk is milk from animals such as cows, sheep, or goats that have not undergone pasteurization. In his post, the expert shared links to health advisories from reputable sources, including the New York State Department of Health and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which both strongly discourage the consumption of raw milk and raw milk products. According to the FDA, raw milk is especially hazardous for those with weakened immune systems, such as transplant patients, individuals with HIV/AIDS, cancer patients, people with diabetes, as well as children, pregnant women, and older adults.

To further ensure safety, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends boiling raw milk for at least 30 seconds to kill harmful bacteria, viruses, and parasites. Although boiling may not replace pasteurization's reliability, it offers an additional measure for those who might still consume raw milk.

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