Replies

In years past, milk was the major vehicle for the transmission of brucellosis (undulant fever) and a frequent means of the transmission of tuberculosis. Pasteurization is not required to kill all bacteria in milk because milk is such a rich source of nutrients, but it does kill these important pathogens. Raw milk is not fortified with vitamin D so other sources of vitamin D must be included in the diet if the person does not get at least 15 minutes per day of sun exposure without sunscreen. Pasteurization has no effect on the nutritional value of milk. with the exception of destroying vitamin C (for which milk is not a particularly good source). I have taught clinical microbiology for over 30 years, and I would NEVER drink raw milk unless I personally knew the cow from which it came so that I could be sure it was disease-free.