Drink raw milk, social media is telling pregnant women. Should they?

A growing number of posts on the likes of TikTok and Instagram are urging pregnant women to drink unpasteurised milk for its health benefits.

Is this good advice for a soon-to-be mother? Milk is, after all, rich in protein and contains both easily digestible fat and a variety of nutritious vitamins.

Although many online posts say raw or unpasteurised milk is beneficial during pregnancy, experts strongly advise pregnant women not to drink it.

Some people prefer unpasteurised milk for its supposedly "particularly full-bodied and aromatic taste", according to one food safety body in Germany, but its health experts warn that consumption is "not without risk".

The Food Standards Agency of the UK likewise says "raw or unpasteurised milk and cream may contain harmful bacteria that can cause food poisoning."

Raw milk is essentially untreated milk from cattle, sheep and goats. It has not been heated to a high temperature or subjected to rigorous microbiological testing. The lack of heat treatment means that any micro-organisms present are not killed and can multiply in the milk. Pasteurization or gentle heat was introduced in the 19th century to remove them before consumption.

At the time, the aim was to protect people from diseases like tuberculosis, which consumer protectors say can be transmitted through milk. To do so, the milk is heated to 72 degrees Celsius for 15 seconds.

What used to combat the spread of tuberculosis could now prevent the transmission of the H5N1 bird flu virus, for example. The virus now effects birds and mammals worldwide and was recently detected in dairy cows in the United States.

Although the risk to human beings is low, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO), it recommends consuming only pasteurised milk products and not raw milk.

Untreated milk can also contain pathogens such as salmonella, listeria, E. coli (EHEC) and campylobacter, which can cause serious infectious diseases.

Potentially dangerous germs were found in up to 5% of 360 raw milk samples tested a few years ago, a study commissioned by the Germany’s Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety (BVL) found. Multi-resistant bacteria were detected in around 10% of the samples.

Vulnerable people such as small children, the elderly, people with weakened immune systems and pregnant women are particularly at risk as the harmful bacteria or germs can cause acute intestinal inflammation or kidney problems, BVL says.

Hormonal changes during pregnancy weaken a woman's immune system. Thus, expectant mothers are more susceptible to infections, which can put the baby at risk.

Pregnant women should protect themselves from toxoplasmosis and listeria, which are transmitted mostly through food. That's why health experts generally advise them to avoid raw animal products. This includes unpasteurised dairy products, raw meat and raw fish.

If you are unsure, you can boil the milk, although milk bought in a supermarket is fairly safe as it is generally heat-treated before sale. Anyone who buys raw milk straight from a farm or market should boil it at home. Heat the milk to at least 72 degrees Celsius for 20 to 30 seconds. As soon as the milk starts to bubble and foam, remove it from the heat.