Got Bootleg Milk?I have no problem with people deciding on their own if they want to have raw milk or not. What I don't like is the cloak of misinformation and paranoia that surrounds the raw milk advocates. Take for example this post by Gene Logsdon in the "Organic To Be" blog.
Seems Mr. Logsdon grew-up drinking raw milk and he's just fine. In fact he's better than fine. Good teeth and bones despite ware and healthy blood work to boot despite a butter/meat/dairy habit that would drive a conventional doctor/nutritionist bonkers (never mind that it may be Mr. Logsdon's genetics rather than his diet that makes him so healthy). Seems we always get these sorts of down-home tales when someone is trying to sell us something (like Fred Thompson... But I digress).
I am very happy for Mr. Logsdon but there are many people who have been sickened by raw milk. You can go down the list in this blog and see yourself that there have been six separate events (with many people involved in each event) since May of this year. This is not to say that people should not drink raw milk. There is some evidence that raw milk is more beneficial than is pasteurized milk 1, 2. But I would love to see the raw milk advocates also mention the higher risks involved when choosing to do so rather than give us a homespun story about how safe it is. But if how wonderfully healthy raw milk is, is not enough to convince you to switch then for a kicker we get a bit of paranoia into the mix. Seems that the anti-raw milk people (the all pervasive and powerful pasteurization industry) wants to squash raw milk at every turn. I'll suggest that perhaps there is an alternative reason for the "anti-raw milk police". Perhaps, just perhaps there are well meaning health departments and law makers who have the statistics on illness associated with raw milk and have decided it is an easily defeated public health risk. A public health risk that is removed with a simple step of pasteurization. It may well be that with more information on the health benefits of raw milk the actions of the public health officials may be misguided but one need not build a great conspiracy to see why we have the laws we do.
Personally I'd like to see raw milk made available everywhere with the condition that a "black box" warning be placed clearly on any container. I'd also like to see if there are alternatives to raw milk, such as omega-3s, that provide the same health benefits without the risks. Technorati Tags: raw milk
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4 comments:
If raw milk needs warning labels as you say, why no response to the pasteurized milk problems mentioned in Gene's article, or the hormones in milk problem, not to mention warning labels on GMO plants, or drugs that kill thousands a year? Maybe a big warning label on the front of hospitals where there are thousands of deaths annually due to carelessness, or warnings on the on-ramps to freeways where millions have died?
As with any food, know your farmer and how they farm, is the best advice in my book. Why single out raw milk small farmers?
Dave Smith
Hi Dave,
Thanks for the comment.
I'd say the raw milk needs a warning label because, as I link to, it is a known carrier of disease. Pasteurized milk too can carry disease as can any food. But the statistics on raw milk show that there is a much higher probability of getting an illness from raw milk than from pasteurized milk.
Sure, a bunch of things could hurt you. But when something, like raw milk, shows a grater probability of harm, then it deserves special attention. All I am saying is sell it but make sure people know it is more dangerous.
Ken
If you think pasteurized milk is safer, please check out these articles: Bacteria-Contaminated Milk from Massachusetts Dairy is Blamed for 3 Deaths, Miscarriage
and Toxic Milk Linked To 3 Deaths, Miscarriage.
Raw milk is wonderful, and I have been drinking it for about 8 months now. The dairy I buy from has been around for 8 years without a single count of pathogenic bacteria. Do you know if most pasteurized milk enterprises can beat that?
Here's a link to a youtube video put out by the owner of the dairy that has my business: Raw Milk Ninja.
After some of the deadly outbreaks from pasteurized milk, don't you think it should have a warning label?
Sincerely,
Raw milk is real milk
Here is a site with some great facts about raw milk: Campaign for Real Milk
Sure, it has its risks but so does everything else we do every day. People die in car crashes every minute, but does that keep us from driving?
When it comes to raw milk, the benefits far outweigh the risks.
Sincerely,
Raw milk is real milk
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