Pediatricians renew call to ban raw milk amid vaccine misinformation

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is renewing its decades-old stance against the sale of unpasteurized, or raw, milk, citing a rise in illnesses linked to the product. This public health advocacy comes as pediatricians are also engaged in defending life-saving vaccinations against what they describe as anti-science rhetoric and misinformation.

The AAP has dedicated significant resources over the past year to defending vaccinations, which have been credited with saving millions of children's lives. However, the organization faces challenges from figures like Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who advocates for reversing public health gains. Adding to these concerns, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has initiated aggressive investigations into pediatricians for vaccinating their patients, a move critics suggest is politically motivated to gain favor with Kennedy, President Trump, and their supporters as Paxton runs for the US Senate.

Pasteurization, a process of briefly heating milk to eliminate dangerous pathogens, has been a cornerstone of public health since the early 20th century, contributing to a significant reduction in infant mortality and illness. Despite this, misinformation has eroded public trust in the practice. State laws have increasingly loosened restrictions on raw milk sales, with at least 27 states now permitting them, even as a federal ban on interstate commerce remains. The AAP notes that outbreaks linked to raw milk have increased over the past two decades, disproportionately affecting children, who are particularly vulnerable to foodborne pathogens.