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Demand for Raw Milk Continues to Grow
Posted by: Dr. Mercola
May 01 2008 | 36,180 views

raw milk, unpasteurized milkDespite overhyped health risks, demand for unpasteurized, or raw, milk appears to be growing. More dairies are selling raw milk, and finding themselves at odds with public health officials because of it.

Many states prohibit sales of raw milk to the public, saying it is responsible for hundreds of cases of salmonella, E. coli, and listeria infections. But proponents of raw milk contend that the pasteurization process destroys nutrients and enzymes, meaning that raw milk is healthier.

No agency or group tracks raw milk sales nationwide, but in Washington state, the number of dairies selling raw milk to the public grew from 6 to 22 over the past two years. And in Massachusetts, the number of raw milk dairies has more than doubled to 24 over a five-year period, even as the total number of dairies in the state has declined.

Sources:

Dr. Mercola's Comments:
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I find it incredibly ironic that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) continues to treat raw milk as if it were the bubonic plague. Just from a commonsense standpoint alone, would growing numbers of people bypass state laws to get their hands on a food that made them sick?

Come on, let’s get real here.

Of course they wouldn’t. People are willing to go to great lengths to get raw milk because it makes them feel great and they know it is good for them.

Yet, the FDA has no problem if you want to slurp down cans of aspartame-sweetened soda, eat MSG-laden soup, or slather on some cosmetics that contain who knows what.

Ironic is clearly an understatement here.

Let’s Put Things Into Perspective

According to the FDA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), from 1998 to May 2005 there were 45 outbreaks of food-borne illness that implicated unpasteurized milk, or cheese made from unpasteurized milk. These outbreaks accounted for 1,007 illnesses, 104 hospitalizations, and two deaths.

Also according to the CDC, there are an estimated 73,000 cases of E. coli infection, including 61 deaths, in the United States each year mostly from eating ground beef.

Let’s see: just over 1,000 illnesses in over seven years from raw milk. 73,000 cases of illness in one year from ground beef. And raw milk is outlawed? Seems to me that it is quite safe in comparison to something many Americans eat nearly every day.

Sure, you may argue that ground beef sickens more people because more people eat it … but it still highlights just how few people are actually getting sick from raw milk.

Then there’s listeria, a type of bacteria that can lead to listeriosis (which is particularly dangerous for pregnant women). According to the CDC, 2,500 Americans become sick from listeriosis each year.

The FDA warns against drinking raw milk partly because it could contain listeria. But how many cases of these 2,500 a year could have come from raw milk? If you take their earlier estimate of raw milk causing 1,007 illnesses in seven years, that works out to 144 cases a year. And that is assuming that EVERY person who got sick from raw milk that year got sick from listeria, which is highly unlikely.

So it is likely far fewer than 144 people a year who have gotten listeriosis from raw milk. Where are the remainder of the 2,500 illnesses a year coming from then? Hot dogs, lunch meats, refrigerated, pre-prepared meat spreads, and pre-made meat and seafood salads.

So perhaps all of those should be made illegal as well? Seems only fair.

Why Does the FDA Care so Much About Raw Milk?

The FDA certainly seems to have a chip on its shoulder when it comes to raw milk. Their raids on small farmers, and heavy-handed tactics like trying to coerce two workers at an organic raw dairy to wear a wire, are becoming all too commonplace.

What are they afraid of? That one day Americans will be drinking gallon upon gallon of natural milk? Oh, the horror.

Actually, it is likely far more political than it is nutritional. Just like the drug industry, the dairy industry has strong lobbying powers, and when I say “dairy industry” I’m not referring to the small farmer that provides your raw milk. I’m talking about the major players in commercial dairy, like the ones who created this fancy GotMilk.com Web site.

What would happen to the majority of the dairy industry if raw milk really caught on? They’d be forced to clean up their acts. Raise healthier cows. Give them access to pasture. As only healthy cows are the ones that you would buy raw milk from. And this would cost them money … lots of money.

Rest assured the dairy industry will not let their “gold standard” pasteurized milk go down without a fight. In the meantime, if you drink milk, do your health a favor and make sure it’s raw. Fortunately, if you live in California or in most places in Europe, raw milk is legal and this is not an issue.


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Posted On May 01, 2008

It has been my pleasure and my luck to have been able to consume raw milk for most of my 59 years. For the past 8 months I haven' been so fortunate, so when "Nancy" calved this spring and my granddaughter began milking once again, that first drink of pure, raw, cold milk was like a taste of heaven. I tried to drink some store-bought over the winter, but had to virtually "choke-it-down", and the after-taste it left in my mouth was disgusting.

It has been said before, the FDA really isn't in place to protect the consumer, it there to protect corporations from some infringements, lest they lose a few dollars, poor things!


 
countryclassic49
Novice User Novice User, Joined On 2/2008
countryclassic49   
 
 
 
Posted On May 01, 2008

Just a note.....when I was milking my cows and had lots of folk clamoring for it.....even tho it was and is illegal  to sell raw milk here in B.C.....I sold it as "pet milk". If the consumers chose to deprive their pets of the milk when I wasn't looking, good on 'em. They were the healthier for their illegal activity!

Cheers,

Kate


 
countryclassic49
Novice User Novice User, Joined On 2/2008
countryclassic49   
Replied

dave61
Novice User Novice User Joined On 8/2007
dave61  
 
Posted On May 01, 2008

I will be visiting my sister in the White Rock area this June.  I've been trying to locate a source of raw milk.  Can you help?



UnFood Cop
Novice User Novice User Joined On 1/2007
UnFood Cop  
 
Posted On May 03, 2008

Hi Kate,

Good on you!!! I'm hoping to find a small goat farmer here in Ontario that will be as generous and wise as you.

Our Minister of Health, the Honourable Tony Clement, has responded to a letter that I sent with the usual rhetoric about how we must be protected from the health risks of consuming raw milk. My main concern about our right of choice was not addressed.

Are you anywhere near Squamish? My daughter lives there and she'd be most interested in feeding her 2 cats and 1 dog some healthy raw milk. Response can be sent to: unfoodcop@yahoo.ca

Eat well, sleep well, be well,   Helga


 
 
 
Posted On Apr 14, 2008
Yay - I've just found out we will be getting our own cow. There may be one extra job each day of milking our own cow but at least we will have organic raw milk.

 
Aaltrude
Moderator User Moderator User, Joined On 4/2007
Aaltrude   
Replied

New to Natural
Savvy User Savvy User Joined On 11/2007
New to Natural  
 
Posted On Apr 14, 2008
I would love to get my own cow - but I don't think my neighbors would like it  :-) 


Islander
Moderator User Moderator User Joined On 3/2007
Islander  
 
Posted On May 01, 2008

Aaltrude, word: don't get a Jersey! They are hyped as being the ideal family cow because they are a small breed that produces less milk, and it's super high in butterfat. What they don't tell you is that the Jersey is the most temperamentally unstable breed, and can be downright ornery. I ended up shipping my Jersey to auction after three lactations, and her heifer calf went with her.

I replaced her with a Guernsey and what a difference! She was the ideal image of a family cow, placid and responsive to attention. Not only will you have enough milk for drinking, butter-making and cheese-making, but you will STILL have some to sell to your neighbors and friends - which is another reason why I think that sales of raw milk are way under-reported!



DeniseMarie
Novice User Novice User Joined On 10/2007
DeniseMarie  
 
Posted On May 04, 2008

Hi, we will be getting 2 goats in a couple weeks.  Can't wait and get some raw milk.  No chance of getting raw cow milk in Michigan.  

And for "New to Natural", maybe you too could get yourself a dairy goat.  They don't demand much room or feed as a cow.  I guess it depends on how much room you have.

Denise


 
 
 
Posted On May 01, 2008

easybullet3,

To say drinking raw milk is not natural is incorrect.  There are ants that keep herds of aphids and milk them.  Milk is just another source of nutrition--like brocolli or spinach. Get over it.

SD


 
Shawn Dady
Novice User Novice User, Joined On 6/2006
Shawn Dady   
 
 
 
Posted On Apr 14, 2008
The risks of E.coli in raw milk are no greater than any other food, if you purchase from a conscientious farmer.  The risks of getting sick from deli meats, hot dogs and meat from factory farms are far greater.

I buy raw milk from a farm near me (in Massachusetts) and let it sit out to separate.  I skim the tip and make raw butter (and buttermilk) from it.  I then use some of the remainder to make yoghurt.  I've even used some of the yoghurt to make cream cheese and extract whey.    All this amazingly healthy food, without ever adding a new ingredient (other than the yogurt starter)! 

Pasteurization destroys the enzymes and denatures some of the proteins that make milk a health food.  However, I wouldn't touch milk from a factory factory farm unless it had been pasteurized.....

 
HealthCoachSandraG
Apprentice User Apprentice User, Joined On 3/2008
HealthCoachSandraG   
Replied

Deana Smiel
Novice User Novice User Joined On 10/2007
Deana Smiel  
 
Posted On Apr 30, 2008

I just found a source for raw milk and I was their first customer!  I even met the cow!  I figured I'd just put some milk in the blender to make butter.  After reading your comment I'm wondering if I should set it out to separate?  Will it not separate in the fridge?  I am so excited about finally getting raw milk.



alm260
Savvy User Savvy User Joined On 6/2006
alm260  
 
Posted On Apr 30, 2008

Would like to know how you make yoghurt without heating the milk.  I just can't seem to do it.  It won't set up.  But I don't heat my milk when making kefir.  I just sit it out on the counter until room temperature and add my kefir starter and gently shake and leave sit out for 24-48 hours.



countryclassic49
Novice User Novice User Joined On 2/2008
countryclassic49  
 
Posted On May 01, 2008

to Deana....milk won't make butter, but cream will. Yes, put it in the fridge overnight, skim the milk next day and churn it. If it's really thick cream you can shake it in a jar; if not, use your eggs beater. I use an electric butter churn, but used to churn it in my mom's old Daisy churn. After whipped cream comes butter. Drain the buttermilk into a clean jar. Wash the butter well in cool running water (not too cold or it gets waxy; not too warm or it gets greasy). After the water you press out comes clear, lightly salt it and there you go! golden and tastey. Use yourbmilk in biscuits or pancakes. Have fun! Regards, Kate



tgouldner
Novice User Novice User Joined On 5/2008
tgouldner  
 
Posted On May 12, 2008

I am new to raw milk.  Would you be willing to share with me your recipes for making the raw butter, buttermilk, cream cheese, and whatever else will keep me on this new way of dairy.  I would greatly appreciate it.

tgouldner@yahoo.com

Thank you.


 
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