What are the potential health risks of consuming pig milk?

Is pig milk safe to drink?

Nobody has set food-safety rules for pig milk, because it is not a commercial product. That means there is no official guidance, no approved testing and no standard for hygiene. It is not known to be poisonous, but the safest answer is that it is not recommended.

What are the health risks?

• Germs: raw milk from any animal can contain bacteria that cause food poisoning. Pasteurization is how commercial milk is made safer, and pig milk is not processed this way.
• Allergies: people with a milk allergy should avoid unfamiliar milks, since milk proteins differ between animals but can still trigger reactions.
• Unknowns: there are no human studies, so nothing is known about long-term effects or suitability for children.

Why do people not drink pig milk?

The reasons are mostly practical, not health-based:

• A sow gives about one-fifth the milk of a cow, according to one report.
• Sows have about 14 teats and no machine has been built to milk them efficiently.
• Sows are defensive around people, so milking is difficult and risky.
• A sow cannot become pregnant while she is nursing, which does not suit pig farming.
• One farmer’s account describes the taste as gamy.

What is in pig milk?

Reports say it is richer than cow milk in fat, protein and lactose, which suits piglets that grow fast. Exact numbers vary by source and are not given here.

Is pig milk cheese a real thing?

At least one restaurant chef tried milking a sow to make cheese and gave up. Pig milk cheese is not something you can buy at a regular store.

Safer choices

If you want an alternative to cow milk, look at pasteurized goat, sheep or plant-based drinks from a store. Ask a doctor or dietitian if you have allergies. This is general information, not medical advice.