Is raw milk considered a probiotic?

• A. Yes
• B. Not applicable
• C. No
• D. Sometimes

Answer: (C)

Probiotics are live microorganisms that, when consumed in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit. They are specifically chosen and added or preserved in foods in known, studied strains and doses. Raw milk is milk that has not been pasteurized, so it contains whatever microflora happen to be present, which can include harmless bacteria but also potentially harmful pathogens. It is not produced or validated as a source of defined, proven probiotic strains, and there’s no guaranteed health benefit associated with it as a probiotic. Because of the risk of illness from pathogens, raw milk does not meet the requirements of a probiotic source. In short, while raw milk may contain bacteria, it is not considered probiotic due to the lack of defined beneficial strains, dosing, and evidence of a health benefit.