Why drinking raw milk like Man City's Erling Haaland might not be safe

The Man City striker claims raw milk is a "superfood", but what do the experts say?

Nutrition experts have warned that drinking raw miilk, as Manchester City's striker Erling Haaland revealed he does, could be unsafe for many people.

The 25-year-old footballer, who plays for City and Norway, recently shared a YouTube video called 'Day in the Life of a pro footballer' showing his daily diet, training and recovery routine.

In the video, Haaland is seen visiting a farm in Cheshire to collect raw, unpasteurised milk, which he describes as a "superfood".

"It's good for us, it's good for our stomach, it's good for our skin, it's good for our bones and muscles," he said. "That’s why I drink it."

Raw milk does not go through pasteurisation, where the milk is heated to a specific temperature to kill harmful bacteria and pathogens. Social media is awash with claims that drinking raw milk offers a whole host of health benefits – improving digestion and skin, and providing more nutrients than 'normal' milk.

But nutrition experts say those claims aren't supported by scientific evidence, and health officials warn that raw milk can carry harmful bacteria capable of causing serious food poisoning.

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) advises that raw milk "may contain harmful bacteria that can cause food poisoning". These bacteria could include E. coli, Salmonella or Campylobacter. The FSA warns it should not be consumed by people aged 65 or over, pregnant women, infants and small children or people with a compromised immune system, such as cancer patients.

While raw milk is legal to buy directly from farms in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, it cannot be sold in supermarkets or shops.

Nichola Ludlam-Raine, Specialist Registered Dietitian and author of How Not To Eat Ultra-Processed, said: "While raw milk is often promoted as a more 'natural' or nutrient-rich option, the scientific literature does not support the idea that it offers meaningful health advantages over pasteurised milk.

"At the same time, raw milk carries a clearly higher risk of food-borne illness due to pathogenic bacteria. From a dietitian’s viewpoint I would say if your goal is optimal recovery for muscles or bones, gut or skin health, a well-balanced diet plus pasteurised milk - if tolerated - remains the safest, evidence-based route.

"Raw milk is not a 'superfood' in the scientific sense."

Dr Emma Derbyshire, nutrition expert, director and lead consultant at Nutritional Insight, said there is no strong evidence that raw milk is "nutritionally superior" to pasteurised milk, adding that the pasteurisation process does not significantly reduce milk’s vitamin or mineral content.

She added: "Drinking raw milk - that is, milk that hasn’t been pasteurized to kill harmful bacteria is not considered safe by most public health and food safety authorities."

Former City acadamy nutritionist Dan Richardson told the BBC that while Haaland likely sources his milk from a reputable supplier, the trend could turn risky if fans copy him.

"A nutritionist is not going to allow him to buy raw milk that has a high risk of contamination. When people begin to copy these dietary habits, it can become unsafe as people will go out and buy the cheapest and most accessible version that may carry the food-borne illnesses," he said.

He added that young athletes should prioritise getting enough carbohydrates, protein and eating regular meals with snacks is a better approach than jumping on trends.