Pasteurized vs Unpasteurized Foods: Juice, Cheese, Milk and Ferments
What pasteurization is, what US and UK health agencies advise about raw milk, unpasteurized cheese and juice, and what outbreak data show for pasteurized and unpasteurized foods.
Content last updated . This page has not been medically reviewed.
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What pasteurization is
FDA describes pasteurization as a widely used process that kills harmful germs by heating milk to a specific temperature for a set period of time. [3] FDA says that if the word "pasteurized" does not appear on a product's label, the product may contain raw milk. [3] The same FDA page says pasteurization does not reduce milk's nutritional value and does not cause lactose intolerance or allergic reactions. [3] Those are FDA statements; the page we read does not name the studies behind them, so we treat them as agency positions, not as a systematic review.What agencies and studies say, food by food
| Food | What the source found | Strength of evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Raw (unpasteurized) milk | FDA says raw milk does not kill dangerous pathogens by itself, and that foodborne illness from raw milk especially affects children and teenagers [3] | Agency position |
| Cheese | FDA's "high risk" list includes unpasteurized soft and hard cheeses; its "low risk" list includes pasteurized hard cheeses such as cheddar [3] | Agency position (US) |
| Cheese in pregnancy, UK | The NHS says pasteurised or unpasteurised hard cheeses such as cheddar, gruyère and parmesan are safe to eat, and that unpasteurised or soft ripened dairy foods may contain listeria [4] | Agency position (UK); differs from the US list above |
| Yogurt | FDA lists yogurt made from unpasteurized milk as high risk [3] | Agency position |
| Juice and cider | A 1997 CDC report linked unpasteurized apple cider or juice to three outbreaks of gastrointestinal illness in 1996, noting that cider is frequently not pasteurized before sale [5] | Outbreak report (historical) |
| Fermented vegetables | In a crossover trial in 87 healthy adults, pasteurized sauerkraut produced more pronounced gut changes than fresh; the authors concluded the gut microbiome is rather resilient to short-term dietary interventions [6] | One crossover trial (not about safety) |
| Illness burden, North America | Systematic review (2007 to 2020): 20 outbreaks with unpasteurized dairy caused 449 confirmed illnesses, 124 hospitalizations and five deaths [7] | Systematic review of outbreak reports |
Reading labels
FDA says a milk label without the word "pasteurized" may mean raw milk, [3] and it refers to unpasteurized juices that carry a warning label. [1] Checking the label is a reasonable first step. Whether a pasteurized fermented product still has live cultures is a separate question; see live cultures on labels. Back to preparation overview.Frequently asked questions
Does pasteurizing milk reduce its nutrition?
FDA states pasteurization does not reduce milk's nutritional value. [3] We did not find the supporting studies on that page.
Is raw milk safer or healthier than pasteurized milk?
FDA says raw milk can carry dangerous germs and does not kill pathogens by itself. [3] Proper evidence not found for health advantages of raw milk in the sources we read.
Are pasteurized dairy products ever linked to outbreaks?
Yes. A systematic review of North American outbreaks found 12 involving pasteurized products, mostly Listeria. [7]
Who should avoid unpasteurized juice?
FDA lists unpasteurized fruit or vegetable juices carrying a warning label among foods advised for avoidance by higher-risk groups, including children under 5, pregnant women, older adults and people with weakened immune systems. [1]
Is hard cheese made from raw milk safe in pregnancy?
The NHS (UK) lists pasteurised or unpasteurised hard cheeses such as cheddar as safe to eat in pregnancy, [4] while FDA's list names unpasteurized cheeses as high risk. [3] Ask your midwife, obstetrician or pharmacist about guidance where you live.
More details: evidence, limits and cautions
The details behind this page: cautions, limits of the evidence and where sources disagree. Open any note to read it.
Safety first: who is most at risk
FDA advises people at greater risk of foodborne illness to avoid unpasteurized (raw) milk and foods made with it, such as raw milk cheese, yogurt or ice cream, and unpasteurized fruit or vegetable juice that carries a warning label. [1] FDA says children under 5 are at high risk of foodborne illness. [1] MedlinePlus says listeriosis is most likely to affect pregnant women and unborn babies, older adults and people with weak immune systems, and advises avoiding raw milk and raw milk products. [2] If you become ill after eating or drinking any of these, or you are pregnant and think you may have, contact a healthcare provider.
Pasteurized does not mean risk-free
The same systematic review found 12 outbreaks involving pasteurized dairy products, with 174 confirmed illnesses, 134 hospitalizations, 17 deaths and seven fetal losses, and that Listeria accounted for 10 of those 12. [7] The authors concluded that warnings about unpasteurized dairy need to continue and that pregnant women and immunocompromised people need to be aware of foods at high risk of Listeria contamination. [7] The abstract we read does not give rates per serving, so it does not show which kind of product is riskier per portion. MedlinePlus notes Listeria can grow even at refrigerator temperature. [2]
FDA's higher-risk advice also names queso fresco-type cheeses whether pasteurized or unpasteurized. [1]
Limits and what we did not find
- Proper evidence not found, in sources we read, for health benefits of raw milk compared with pasteurized milk. We looked at FDA, NHS and MedlinePlus pages and a PubMed systematic review. For claims about raw milk, see raw milk: claims versus food-safety evidence.
- The CDC raw milk page returned an access error when we tried to read it, so we do not cite it.
- Guidance differs by country: the US and UK examples above are not identical for cheese.
- We do not give directions for making any fermented food or cheese at home; see fermented foods safety.
References
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. People at Risk of Foodborne Illness. Read 2026-10-23.
- MedlinePlus. Listeria Infections. U.S. National Library of Medicine. Read 2026-10-23.
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The Dangers of Raw Milk: Unpasteurized Milk Can Pose a Serious Health Risk. Read 2026-10-23.
- NHS (UK). Foods to avoid in pregnancy. Read 2026-10-23.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Outbreaks of Escherichia coli O157:H7 infection and cryptosporidiosis associated with drinking unpasteurized apple cider, Connecticut and New York, October 1996. MMWR 1997;46(1):4-8. Read 2026-10-23.
- Schropp N, Bauer A, Stanislas V, et al. The impact of regular sauerkraut consumption on the human gut microbiota: a crossover intervention trial. Microbiome 2025;13(1):52. Read 2026-10-23.
- Sebastianski M, Bridger NA, Featherstone RM, Robinson JL. Disease outbreaks linked to pasteurized and unpasteurized dairy products in Canada and the United States: a systematic review. Can J Public Health 2022;113(4):569-578. Read 2026-10-23.
Education, not medical advice. This page is for general information. It does not diagnose or treat any condition and is not a substitute for care from a qualified health professional. Natural does not automatically mean safe. Ask a clinician or pharmacist before changing your care, especially if you take medication, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or have a health condition.