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There is no substitute for clean, raw milk as a food, so far as
children are concerned. Science has not yet succeeded in providing,
in the pasteurized variety, those essential qualities that are the
only real foundation for a healthy child.
Unfortunately, many grossly distorted statements are current regarding
our milk supply. If we are to believe the protagonists of the Pasteurization-of-all-milk-at-all
costs Party, raw milk is as good, or rather as bad, as rat poison--although
as the Minister of Agriculture recently stated, "the human
race existed long before Pasteur was heard of."
The process of pasteurization was debated in the House of Commons
and the suggestion made that no raw milk should be sold for human
consumption. This would mean installation of expensive machinery
by every supplier, and if it should become compulsory there is little
doubt that many small firms would shut down and the business pass
in the hands of a few big dealers.
If we are to be compelled to drink pasteurized milk, we should
at least understand what pasteurization means. It set out to accomplish
two things: Destruction of certain disease-carrying germs and the
prevention of souring milk. These results are obtained by keeping
the milk at a temperature of 145 degrees to 150 degrees F for half
an hour, at least, and then reducing the temperature to not more
than 55 degrees F.
It is undoubtedly beneficial to destroy dangerous germs, but pasteurization
does more than this--it kills off harmless and useful germs alike,
and by subjecting the milk to high temperatures, destroys some nutritious
constituents.
With regards to the prevention of souring, sour raw milk is very
widely used. It is given to invalids, being easily digested, laxative
in its properties, and not unpleasant to take. But, after pasteurization,
the lactic acid bacilli are killed. The milk, in consequence, cannot
become sour and quickly decomposes, while undesirable germs multiply
very quickly.
Pasteurization's great claim to popularity is the widespread belief,
fostered by its supporters that tuberculosis in children is caused
by the harmful germs found in raw milk. Scientists have examined
and tested thousands of milk samples, and experiments have been
carried out on hundreds of animals in regard to this problem of
disease-carrying by milk. But the one vital fact that seems to have
been completely missed is that it is CLEAN, raw milk that is wanted.
If this can be guaranteed, no other form of food for children can,
or should, be allowed to take its place.
Dirty milk, of course, is like any other form of impure food--a
definite menace. But Certified Grade A Milk, produced under Government
supervision and guaranteed absolutely clean, is available practically
all over the country and is the dairy farmer's answer to the pasteurization
zealots.
Recent figures published regarding the spread of tuberculosis by
milk show, among other facts, that over a period of five years,
during which time 70 children belonging to a special organization
received a pint of raw milk daily, only one case of the disease
occurred. During a similar period when pasteurized milk had been
given, 14 cases were reported.
Besides destroying part of the vitamin C contained in raw milk
and encouraging growth of harmful bacteria, pasteurization turns
the sugar of milk, known as lactose, into beta-lactose, which is
far more soluble and therefore more rapidly absorbed in the system,
with the result that the child soon becomes hungry again.
Probably pasteurization's worst offence is that it makes insoluble
the major part of the calcium contained in raw milk. This frequently
leads to rickets, bad teeth and nervous troubles, for sufficient
calcium content is vital to children; and with the loss of phosphorus
also associated with calcium, bone and brain formation suffer serious
setbacks.
Pasteurization also destroys 20 percent of the iodine present in
raw milk, causes constipation and generally takes from the milk
its most vital qualities.
In the face of these facts--which are undeniable--what has the
Pasteurization Party to say? Instead of compelling dealers to set
up expensive machinery for turning raw milk into something that
is definitely not what it sets out to be--a nutritious, health giving
food--let them pass legislation making the dairy farmers produce
clean, raw milk--that is, milk pure to drink with all its constituents
unaltered.
RealMilk.com
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