By Dr. Mercola
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
commonly warns against drinking raw milk, citing numerous
“outbreaks” linked to the product.
But drinking raw milk
produced by grass-fed cows from clean, well-run farms is
actually far LESS dangerous than drinking pasteurized milk. In
fact, not only does raw milk contain good bacteria that are
essential for a healthy digestive system, raw milk also offers
protection against disease-causing bacteria.
CDC data show there are about 412 confirmed cases of people
getting ill from pasteurized milk each year, while only
about 116 illnesses a year are linked to raw milk.1
Eventually, as the numbers of raw milk dairies increase, and so
too do their happy customers, the CDC may be forced to change
its tune.
No Illnesses Linked to Raw Milk in Arkansas
Last year, Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe signed into law HB
1536, which legalized the sale of locally produced raw milk from
the farm. Four months after the bill took effect, as of January
20, no illnesses have been caused as a result of this
increase in raw milk sales. According to Arkansas Online:2
“Four months after a state law took effect allowing
the sale of unpasteurized milk, the Arkansas Health
Department has yet to identify an illness 'definitively
linked' to consuming the beverage.”
The new bill impacts both cow and goat milk. Previously,
Arkansas allowed farmers to sell up to 100 gallons of raw goat
milk per month at the farm, but HB 1536 will increase that to
500 gallons. Additionally, raw cow’s milk is now also allowed,
with a few caveats. According to RealMilk.com:3
“Arkansas permits the sale of up to 500 gallons of
raw cow or goat milk per month directly to consumers on the
farm where the milk is produced.
Farmers must post a sign at the farm and their
products must display a label noting that the milk is not
pasteurized. Farms and cows are not state inspected and
buyers assume all liability for any health problems that may
arise from drinking raw milk.”
So far, those “health problems” are non-existent, adding
further support for those seeking to legalize raw milk sales
across the US.
Health Risks? What About the Health Benefits?
Public health agencies are conspicuously silent about the
proven benefits linked to drinking unpasteurized dairy products
versus their conventional pasteurized counterparts.
For instance, school-aged children who drank raw milk were 41
percent less likely to develop asthma and about 50 percent less
likely to develop hay fever than children who drank store-bought
(pasteurized) milk, according to one study that used data from
more than 8,000 children.4
And while public health agencies are quick to say that there
are no nutritional differences between raw and pasteurized milk,
this study suggests otherwise. The researchers believed that the
beneficial effect may have been due to whey proteins, including
bovine serum albumin (BSA) and alpha-lactalbumin, in the raw
milk, which were destroyed by the heating process in the
pasteurized milk.
While the study didn't find an association between any health
outcomes and the bacterial contents of the milk, it
did demonstrate noted differences between raw and
pasteurized varieties, which the CDC continues to deny.
Additionally, high-quality raw milk has a mountain of health
benefits that pasteurized milk lacks. For example, raw milk is:
- Loaded with healthy bacteria that are good for your
gastrointestinal tract
- Full of more than 60 digestive enzymes, growth factors,
and immunoglobulins (antibodies)
- Rich in conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), which fights
cancer and boosts metabolism
- Rich in beneficial raw fats, amino acids, and proteins
in a highly bioavailable form, all 100 percent digestible
- Loaded with vitamins (A, B, C, D, E, and K) in highly
bioavailable forms, and a very balanced blend of minerals
(calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, and iron) whose absorption
is enhanced by live lactobacilli
The Real Issue Here Is Your Food Freedom
Increasing numbers of small farmers and Americans are
challenging the “nanny state” mentality that the government
should tell you what you can and can’t eat. If you desire to
drink raw milk, and you have found a farmer who wants to provide
it to you, should that not be your inherent right to eat the
food of your choosing?
There have been some positive strides made, including not
only the Arkansas legislation but also a bill has passed the
Wisconsin Senate that would allow dairy farmers to sell raw milk
directly to consumers. In Oregon, too,
sales of raw milk from small farms directly to consumers are
legal, but advertising that such milk is available is
not (a restriction that’s currently being challenged).
Truth be told, many people should not consume dairy, as they
are allergic to the milk proteins, whether it is raw or
pasteurized. Additionally, many who are seeking to lose weight,
have high blood pressure, or diabetes would likely be better
avoiding raw or pasteurized milk, as it has the dairy sugar
lactose and those carbs can worsen insulin/leptin resistance.
However, if you are healthy and want to drink milk, then it
makes more sense to fear drinking pasteurized milk. While there
has not been one single death due to raw milk between 1998 and
2008,5
the United States' largest recorded outbreak of Salmonella
resulted from pasteurized milk. Yet this and other
outbreaks of illness resulting from the consumption of
pasteurized milk are kept from public knowledge, and escapes
warnings from the CDC.
Do You Know How to Identify High-Quality Raw Dairy?
Ultimately, where you get your milk really matters and this
is true of raw milk in particular. It’s contrary to reason that
milk (and many other foods) that comes from concentrated animal
feeding operations (CAFOs) is thought of as safe, while raw milk
sourced from a small carefully run farm is not. In CAFOs, large
groups of animals are kept in a small space, oftentimes without
natural light or access to the outdoors.
The conditions are filthy, with animals standing in one
another's waste. Needless to say, harmful bacteria naturally
thrive in these conditions. As a result, drinking CAFO milk raw
would be extremely dangerous. It must be pasteurized
for safety. On the other hand, milk from grass-fed cows raised
on smaller, clean farms can be safely consumed without being
pasteurized, provided the farmer is committed to providing a
safe, quality product.
Getting your raw milk from a local organic farm is one of the
best ways to ensure you're getting high-quality milk, but even
then if you're thinking about purchasing milk from a small
farmer, it would be very wise to visit the farm in person. Look
around and ask questions about the following general conditions,
which should indicate a source of high-quality raw milk.
Low pathogenic bacteria count (i.e. does the farmer test
his milk regularly for pathogens?) |
The milk comes from cows raised naturally, in accordance
with the seasons |
The cows are not given antibiotics and growth hormones
to increase milk production |
The milk is quickly chilled after milking |
The cows are mainly grass-fed |
Cows are well cared for |
You Can Stand Up for Food Freedom!
The fight for food freedom isn’t just for those who love raw
milk – it’s for everyone who wants to be able to obtain the food
of their choice from the source of their choice. Raw milk isn’t
the only food on the chopping block. Raw-milk cheeses and
heritage-breed pigs are also being targeted, and there’s no
telling what other small-farm, niche foods may be next. So
please, get involved! I urge you to embrace the following action
plan to protect your right to choose your own foods:
- Get informed: Visit
www.farmtoconsumer.org or
click here to sign up for action alerts.
- Join the fight for your rights: The
Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund (FTCLDF) is the only
organization of its kind. This 501(c)(4) nonprofit
organization provides a legal defense for farmers who are
being pursued by the government for distributing foods
directly to consumers.
Your
donations, although not tax deductible, will be used to
support the litigation, legislative, and lobbying efforts of
the FTCLDF.
- Support your local farmers: Buy from
local farmers, not the industry that is working with the
government to take away your freedom.
Copyright 1997- 2014 Dr. Joseph Mercola. All Rights Reserved.