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More than five million people have watched Erling Haaland’s first video, which also sparked discussion about his consumption of raw milk.

Manchester City and Norway striker Haaland, 25, discusses his daily routine and enjoyment of cooking and eating tomahawk steaks in an episode titled “Day in the life of a professional footballer.”

He also discusses his preference for drinking raw, unpasteurized milk, which is sold legally in England but cannot be purchased in stores or supermarkets.

People with weaker immune systems, including those over 65, pregnant women, young children, and those with a compromised immune system, should not consume it, according to the Food Standards Agency (FSA) warning that it “may contain harmful bacteria that can cause food poisoning.”

Haaland is filmed visiting a farm in Cheshire to collect his supply of raw milk in the YouTube episode.

He refers to it as a “superfood” that, he says, “is good for the stomach, good for the skin, the bones, and muscles,” and that’s why I consume it.

The striker has a history of drinking one glass of wine each morning and another after training, according to sources close to him.

Simply put, Haaland believes that this will help him become healthier, which is crucial for an athlete at the top of their line of work. In essence, it’s more about him making a life decision than about choosing what to eat while exercising.

Some of Haaland’s City team-mates reportedly drank raw milk before his arrival, though it is unknown how many or how much.

In the UK, the majority of milk is heated or pasteurized to kill off harmful bacteria. Raw drinking milk does not work the same way, instead flowing straight to the bottle without any treatment.

According to FSA deputy director of policy Natasha Smith, “Raw milk may contain food poisoning bacteria, so there are additional checks and hygiene standards for producers of raw drinking milk.”

In England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, raw cow’s drinking milk can only be sold to consumers through registered farmers’ markets, milk-round vehicles, and distributors. In Scotland, it is prohibited.

Raw milk must be produced on farms that adhere to hygiene standards, are regularly inspected twice a year, and have a health warning on its packaging. It must also be produced on animals that are free from diseases like tuberculosis.

The FSA claims that there has been more popularity of raw milk because “people believe it has health benefits,” despite its label as a “risky” product, despite the fact that it lists few solid scientific supporting that claim.

Since the episode was posted, the dairy farm where Haaland was filmed buying milk had stated on Facebook that it had been “rather in demand” and that it hoped to “buy a new dairy cow very soon” to enable quicker delivery of orders.

Dan Richardson, a former nutritionist for the City Academy, stated to BBC Sport that he would always try to find the “safest approach possible” in order to “not compromise on the safety of food.”

He continued, “The challenge with raw milk is that some businesses can get good at reducing the risk factor for bacteria, and I’m confident that Haaland will use the best quality available.”

A nutritionist won’t let him purchase raw milk that is highly susceptible to contamination. People will go out and purchase the least expensive and most readily available version of these eating habits, which may carry food-borne illnesses, when people begin to copy these habits.

When asked if he thought the practice of drinking raw milk would take off, Richardson responded, “Unfortunately, I can see it happening.

Drinking raw milk is a part of a unique off-field routine that also includes maple syrup and red-light therapy for Haaland.

Young athletes should remember that consuming three regular meals with snacks, consuming the right amount of carbohydrates, and consuming the right amount of protein is a better strategy than following trends, Richardson continued.

Some athletes try to emulate a role model rather than perform the seemingly mundane tasks very well.

The first video posted on Erling Haaland’s new YouTube channel has attracted more than five million views – and prompted discussion about his consumption of raw milk.

In an episode titled ‘Day in the life of a pro footballer’, Manchester City and Norway striker Haaland, 25, speaks about his daily routine and enjoyment of cooking – and eating – tomahawk steaks.

But he also talks about his taste for drinking raw, unpasteurised milk, which cannot be bought in shops or supermarkets – though its sale is legal in England.

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) advises it “may contain harmful bacteria that can cause food poisoning” and therefore should not be consumed by people with weaker immune systems, including those aged 65 and over, pregnant women, small children and those with a compromised immune system.

In the YouTube episode, Haaland is filmed visiting a farm in Cheshire to collect his supply of raw milk.

He refers to it as a “superfood” that he believes is “good for the stomach, good for the skin, the bones and muscles”, adding: “That is why I drink it.”

Sources close to the striker have told BBC Sport he drinks one glass every morning and another after training – a ritual that has been a part of his life for as long as he can remember.

Put simply, Haaland feels it makes him healthier, which is an important mindset for an athlete at the peak of their profession. Basically, it’s more a life choice for him than one taken with sporting nutrition in mind.

It is understood some of Haaland’s City team-mates also drank raw milk before his arrival, though it is not known how many – or how much they consume.

The majority of milk drunk in the UK is heat-treated – or pasteurised – to kill off harmful bacteria. Raw drinking milk is not produced in the same way – going straight from the animal to the bottle without any treatment.

“Raw milk may contain food poisoning bacteria, so there are extra checks and hygiene standards for raw drinking milk producers,” says FSA deputy director of policy Natasha Smith.

The sale of raw cow’s drinking milk is legal in England, Wales and Northern Ireland – but it can only be sold directly to consumers by registered raw drinking milk production farms, at registered farmers’ markets, and by distributors with milk-round vehicles. It is banned in Scotland.

Raw milk must come from animals that are free from diseases such as tuberculosis, from farms that comply with hygiene rules and are routinely inspected twice a year, and must be labelled with the appropriate health warning.

Despite its listing as a “risky” product, the FSA told BBC Sport there has been an increase in the popularity of raw milk because “people believe it has health benefits” – though it says there is little credible scientific evidence to support that.

The farm at which Haaland was filmed buying milk wrote on Facebook that its product had been “rather in demand” since the episode was posted, staff had been “frazzled”, and it hoped to “buy a new dairy cow very soon” so orders could be met more quickly.

Former City academy nutritionist Dan Richardson told BBC Sport he would always look for the “safest approach possible” so as “not to compromise on the safety of food”.

He said: “The challenge with raw milk is that you can get some companies who do a good job in reducing the risk factor to bacteria, and I am sure Haaland will be using the premium quality available out there.

“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.”

Asked if he felt the trend of drinking raw milk would gain momentum, Richardson said: “Unfortunately, I can see it happening.”

For Haaland, drinking raw milk is part of an unconventional off-field routine that also includes red-light therapy and adding maple syrup to his coffee.

Richardson added: “Young athletes need to remember that getting the right amount of carbohydrates, hitting the protein intake and eating three regular meals with snacks is a better approach than jumping towards trends.

“Some athletes will try to find a quick fix by replicating a role model rather than doing the mundane stuff really well.