[yefragetuwrabrumuy]

I will confess that raw milk is delicious, a delicacy, and after you taste it, pasteurized and homogenized milk tastes like chalky water.

But this sets up an interesting contest. In such bureaucracies, there are a goodly number of bacteriophobes, convinced beyond any doubt that all bacteria are evil and should never be allowed in anything at all. That food should be “dead” and sterile.

In Europe, such bureaucrats are so out of control that they demanded that German beer be pasteurized, as well as cheese like Brie, Camembert, and the various blue cheeses. Which of course are abhorrent suggestions. But they don’t care.

On the other side of the argument are people who are willing to take the risk of getting milk borne diseases.

“The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that of 239 hospitalizations caused by tainted dairy products from 1993 through 2006, 202 involved raw milk or raw-milk cheese.”

So there is a risk. The CDC notes that children are most susceptible to such harm, with 82% of the cases, many requiring hospitalization, so if you do consume raw milk, it is best to think of it as an adult beverage.

[saintgermaine]

I never drink milk to begin with, so no problem. Humans are one of the few creatures aside from cats who drink milk after they have been weaned.

[srmorton]

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.

[Dusty Road]

“The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that of 239 hospitalizations caused by tainted dairy products from 1993 through 2006, 202 involved raw milk or raw-milk cheese.”

Your kidding me right? Less than 20 a year and we must ban the sell? Good grief! I’m 64 years old and the first 14 years of my life was spent drinking raw milk and eating home made butter.