– opinion –
“Superfoods – that’s why I drink them.”
This is how soccer superstar Erling Haaland described raw milk when he visited Greenoaks Farm in Cheshire, England. In a video widely circulated online, Holland praised raw milk for its benefits for the stomach, skin, bones and muscles.
For millions of young football fans, comments like that mean a lot.
As a soccer fan myself, I understand the appeal. Kids have always copied their heroes, from the cleats they wear to the exercises they follow. With one of the sport’s biggest stars calling raw milk a “superfood,” it’s easy to see why some young athletes are giving it a try.
This is where food safety enters the conversation.
Raw Milk Is More Than Just a Nutrition Trend
Raw milk is not the same as choosing one protein powder over another. This poses a well-documented risk of food poisoning.
Haaland may not recommend that anyone drink raw milk. He’s just sharing a part of his personal life. However, celebrity influence does not require explicit endorsement. Fans often assume that if a superstar does something, there must be a reason.
That’s how trends spread.
Raw milk is becoming increasingly popular among some athletes, bodybuilders and wellness influencers who claim it offers better nutrition, easier digestion or improved recovery. These claims continue to circulate online despite decades of research not supporting them.
Science tells a different story
Raw milk may contain harmful bacteria, including salmonella, E. coli, listeria, and campylobacter. Appearing healthy dairy animals can carry these pathogens without showing signs of illness, and contamination can occur during milking, bottling or storage. Dangerous bacteria cannot be seen, smelled or tasted.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), raw milk has been linked to more than 200 outbreaks between 1998 and 2018, resulting in more than 2,600 illnesses and hundreds of hospitalizations. More recently, an Idaho outbreak linked to campylobacter-contaminated raw milk sickened dozens of people.
Children, pregnant women, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems are at highest risk for serious illness. In some cases, infection can lead to kidney failure, miscarriage, bloodstream infection, or even death.
Haaland isn’t the only one making claims about raw milk. Proponents have long argued that pasteurization removes valuable nutrients, beneficial bacteria or enzymes. But decades of research have found no health benefits that outweigh the risks of consuming unpasteurized milk. Pasteurization destroys disease-causing bacteria while preserving nutrients that make milk an excellent source of protein, calcium, and other essential vitamins and minerals.
That’s why the FDA, CDC, and American Academy of Pediatrics continue to recommend pasteurized dairy products.
Celebrity influence is difficult to overcome
Government fact sheets rarely go viral. Professional athletes are like that.
We’ve seen similar cycles with questionable supplements, extreme diets and wellness trends exploding on social media long before science caught up or left behind.
It’s also worth remembering that elite athletes don’t achieve success because of just one diet. They train with nutritionists, doctors, trainers and performance experts who monitor all aspects of their health. Most young athletes don’t get that kind of support.
Copying one item from a professional athlete’s routine does not replicate the system behind it.
What Parents and Coaches Can Do
Parents and coaches can help put this trend in perspective.
Young athletes don’t need dangerous shortcuts. Continuous training, a balanced diet, hydration, and adequate sleep remain the greatest contributors to athletic performance. These habits have created generations of champions without exposing children to preventable food poisoning.
Public health agencies may need to rethink how they communicate. Facts are important, but facts alone cannot compete with celebrity culture. Partnering with respected athletes, coaches and sports organizations can help convey food safety messages in a way that resonates with young audiences.
Respect athletes, not all their habits
None of this diminishes Haaland’s incredible accomplishments. His work ethic, talent, and passion for the game earned him fans around the world.
There’s nothing wrong with wanting to train like your favorite athlete. But that doesn’t mean every personal habit is part of your daily routine.
The evidence on crude oil has been remarkably consistent over decades. The safest choice is still the simplest: drinking pasteurized milk.
