What is pasteurization?

Pasteurized milk is raw milk heated to below 100 oC for a specified amount of time to kill pathogens & harmful bacteria that may live in raw milk without destroying any nutrients. Bacteria such as Listeria, Salmonella, E.coli, and Mycobacterium Tuberculosis can cause serious illnesses. 

These bacteria and others can be avoided and eliminated by treating the milk at a temperature of 73 degrees celsius for more than 15 seconds, followed by rapid cooling. This short-time and high-temperature process result in maximum product quality and minor changes to milk’s nutritional characteristics, in which calcium and vitamin D are retained.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) bans the sale or distribution of raw milk. All milk sold to the public must be pasteurized and packaged in a licensed dairy plant.

Can unpasteurized milk be given to babies?

The immune system in babies is still developing, so their bodies cannot fight off an infection as quickly as adults can. Unpasteurized milk poses risks for both adults and children. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in the US, unpasteurized milk is 150 times more likely to cause an illness than any other food. It can also lead to hospitalization.