Raw Milk Anyone?

Lobster1987

I'm interested in buying raw milk....I've had it before when my grandparents still milked cows....and the stuff is glorious.

Does anyone buy from local farmers and stuff? I'm trying to figure out how to get my hands on some. I know its not legal generally.

General thoughts?

girlinahat

here in the UK it is available if bought direct from the farmer, or at a farmer's market. unpasteurised milk products are generally available everywhere (cheese etc.)

There are risks associated with raw milk, but then again, there are risks with everything, and plenty of people have grown up big and strong on a diet of raw milk. In fact, I believe the actual cases of infection from raw milk are infinitesiminally small.

I have no idea how you'll get hold of it in the states.

Lobster1987

Yeah....I'm having a hard time finding anyone who advertises it around here. It must be a word of mouth type of thing since the legality of unpastuerized milk is in question.

pilady66

You could check this link and see if any of them are near you.

http://www.realmilk.com/where05.html#mn

Lobster1987

Any one here drink it? Do you have any pro/cons?

ennysmith

It's difficult to purchase the milak direct from the farmer

LeonnieH

We can buy direct from a farm shop which is also a dairy, we're in the UK. I don't buy it now because the farm shop that supplies it is too far away to buy from regularly (an hours drive away). I drank raw milk all my childhood (grew up on a farm) and it did me no harm at all if anything it has probably given me many health benefits

madmickie

i have no axe to grind on this but why would you want raw milk over pastuerised milk?


Below is from the FDA

Raw Milk & Pasteurization: Debunking Milk Myths
While pasteurization has helped provide safe, nutrient-rich milk and cheese for over 120 years, some people continue to believe that pasteurization harms milk and that raw milk is a safe healthier alternative.

Here are some common myths and proven facts about milk and pasteurization:

Pasteurizing milk DOES NOT cause lactose intolerance and allergic reactions. Both raw milk and pasteurized milk can cause allergic reactions in people sensitive to milk proteins.
Raw milk DOES NOT kill dangerous pathogens by itself.
Pasteurization DOES NOT reduce milk's nutritional value.
Pasteurization DOES NOT mean that it is safe to leave milk out of the refrigerator for extended time, particularly after it has been opened.
Pasteurization DOES kill harmful bacteria.
Pasteurization DOES save lives.

annabell48

You're not alone with wanting to go with raw milk. I would rather have it raw over being pasteurized as well. My suggestion is if you're fairly close to an Amish community, check with an Amish family to see if you can by raw milk from them.

redhousecat

real raw milk can be purchased on the "black market" here in the states. lol. Depending on the state, you can purchase it if you claim to be buying it for your animals....lol. It's really silly.

There is every study under the sun that states how good raw milk is for you AND how bad raw milk is for you. It is one of those things that you just take with a grain of salt. Either you want it or you don't. Personally, we drink it. We had a difficult time purchasing it "legally" when we lived in Georgia. Now we just buy it underground. It's easier and cheaper.

This site may help: http://www.realmilk.com/where03.html

ETA: There is a difference between raw milk and whole milk in advertising. Many farmers will heat their raw milk prior to selling.

bensmommy1117

I grew up on a dairy farm and have drank raw milk my whole life. I love it. Store bought stuff just tastes blah to me. And I have never once gotten sick from it. Just make sure the farm you purchase it from is clean and the facilities are sanitary. I wouldn't hesitate to eat of my Dad's milkhouse floor, he's always been a stickler about keeping everything spotless.

BrettPGH

From the Center for Disease Control:

Many people who chose raw milk thinking they would improve their health instead found themselves (or their loved ones) sick in a hospital for several weeks fighting for their lives from infections caused by germs in raw milk. For example, a person can develop severe or even life-threatening diseases, such as Guillain-Barré syndrome, which can cause paralysis, and hemolytic uremic syndrome, which can result in kidney failure and stroke.



There are a lot of fine ways to die. I don't consider drinking milk to be one of them.

grimsin

raw milk is illegal in some states if you can believe that. Of course owning your own milk cow is the best way to getting milk, but if you do not have that option I would say either a farmers market (though they heat their milk alot of the time before selling) or direct from a farm that milks. I was raised on raw milk and still prefer it to store bought milk, I love it. you get your butter, cream and milk all in the same purchase :P

netsirk12

when you are at the grocrey store look for the local milks. I know hannaford carries diffrent local brands, buy a regular bottle ( for the number) and call them. Most farms do it. At least in the US anyways.

HogSandwich

not chiming in to be helpful, just saying it's illegal in Australia and there's warnings everywhere out in the rural areas...

BeantownSooner

Do a search in your local area for a term called 'Community Shared Agriculture'. Essentially what this is is you purchase a "share" of a local farm or farms where on a weekly basis you get a share of the crops. This helps the farmers as you pay upfront and infuses capital into their farms for the season. Most are organic and many have meat and dairy as options including Raw milk. Just make sure the farms are USDA inspected and most of them should be. Depending where you live many of the CSA programs are about finished so could be too late but you should be able to find where to get the raw milk for now. Nothing wrong with a weekly ratio of organic veggies, grass-fed meat and free-range poultry! And the prices are usually very reasonable.

netsirk12

http://realmilk.com/where05.html#mn

ZombieChaser

this totally just made me think of this:

Kate8059

We drink raw milk from our goats when we have extra. Probably not helpful at all but in Canada its illegal to sell raw milk. As far as I know if your caught youll be fined and I think you can be shut down and lose your quota (not completely sure though). There were people who were "leasing" there cows to people so those people would "own the milk" and drink it as they please (but not sell it). But that got shut down too. I've heard of black markets in the city.

EvgeniZyntx

Raw milk tastes good - that is the real reason. I used to drink it every once in a while when I could get it from a small farm that is land-held by my MIL. But honestly, it is dangerous. Especially for kids. If you want to take the risk personally - fine. Giving it to children is criminal unless you really know the source.

Pregnant women or those near pregnant women should avoid it too - the real risks, especially in America, around salmonella can be catastrophic. Other risks include listeriosis, E. coli infection, Q-fever and tuberculosis. All nice.

Raw milk is one of the most dangerous food products and is responsible for many more hospitalizations than any other food-related disease outbreak - so take that into consideration.

The issue with raw milk in America is that since it is illegal in about half the states there is limited control or testing in these states. It would be possible to develop a better industry today given the quality of microbial testing but not in that legal and economic environment of volume.

Europe has a different position and raw milk is available in almost all countries. Cheese from raw milk? I would not like to live without it. Love my Comte.

DanaDark

All pasteurization does is heat the milk to above 161 degrees F and then rapidly cools it. That's it. Doing so kills off 99% of bacteria in it (all the ones harmful to humans). No added chemicals. Nothing removed or drained or strained. Chemical composition remains exactly the same, and even the dead bacteria isn't removed. Simply just heated and cooled. There is also absolutely no beneficial bacteria in raw milk at all. None.

According to the CDC: "1,837 illnesses, 195 hospitalizations, and 2 deaths" of which, 82% were from raw milk. This is between 1998 and 2009.

You COULD buy raw milk, heat it yourself, and then cool it... but then... why not just get pasteurized?

girlinahat

According to the CDC: "1,837 illnesses, 195 hospitalizations, and 2 deaths" of which, 82% were from raw milk. This is between 1998 and 2009.

now THAT's an interesting statistic. 1837 illnesses and 82% of them were from raw milk? What were the others from? Compared to what? Only 2 deaths between 1998 and 2009? Really? I mean, I thought more than 2 people died A DAY!!!!

context please context. That statistic means nothing.

I'm surprised the entire french population isn't extinct considering the consumption of unpasteurised dairy products they consume......

DanaDark

According to the CDC: "1,837 illnesses, 195 hospitalizations, and 2 deaths" of which, 82% were from raw milk. This is between 1998 and 2009.

now THAT's an interesting statistic. 1837 illnesses and 82% of them were from raw milk? What were the others from? Compared to what? Only 2 deaths between 1998 and 2009? Really? I mean, I thought more than 2 people died A DAY!!!!

context please context. That statistic means nothing.

I'm surprised the entire french population isn't extinct considering the consumption of unpasteurised dairy products they consume......

That statistic means a lot. Less than 3% of the US Population drinks raw milk. (So, that 3% accounting for 82% of illnesses shows a huge risk).

But, it also shows that while the risk is incredibly significantly higher, its not like it will immediately kill you the second you sip raw milk lol. Simply drinking pasteurized milk GREATLY reduces the risks with milk consumption, and is incredibly easy to do (harder to find raw milk!).

If you find the statistics meaningless, you should take a few math classes.

BCSMama

The laws vary by state. When we lived in Utah, we bought raw milk directly from a dairy farmer at his farm for like $2 a gallon and it was great. He was not certified to sell raw milk, but did it for a few people under the table. I always figured if his family and kids drank it and were fine, it was okay.

Now, in Texas, it is legal to sell certified raw milk from the farm only. There is a place fairly local to us (about 45 minutes away) that sells certified raw milk. This means that the farmer has a permit from the USDA to sell it and has regular inspections, follows a strict protocol for collection, storage and cleaning of machinery, etc. Because she has to maintain this certification, her costs are higher, which she must pass on to the consumers. So, if we want raw milk, we have to drive there and pay like $10 a gallon :sad: I believe there is a coop that you can buy into that has someone drive to her farm monthly and buy milk for anyone in the coop that wants it, but it's just too expensive for my budget.

I do prefer raw milk and believe it has benefits, but not enough for me to justify the extra expense.

ipag

Raw milk is readily available in my neck of the woods (Northern California) as well as cheeses made from raw milk. There's a warning sign but no one seems to pay attention to those signs.

PaleoPath4Lyfe

I'm interested in buying raw milk....I've had it before when my grandparents still milked cows....and the stuff is glorious.

Does anyone buy from local farmers and stuff? I'm trying to figure out how to get my hands on some. I know its not legal generally.

General thoughts?

Check out the Real Milk website and see if you can find a farmer in your area.

http://www.realmilk.com/

linz1125

One of the local dairy farms will sell it if you ask....they just have to label it "not for human consumption." I was talking to the owner at their farmers market and they drink it all the time. Check with a local dairy farm.

PaleoPath4Lyfe

i have no axe to grind on this but why would you want raw milk over pastuerised milk?


Below is from the FDA

Raw Milk & Pasteurization: Debunking Milk Myths
While pasteurization has helped provide safe, nutrient-rich milk and cheese for over 120 years, some people continue to believe that pasteurization harms milk and that raw milk is a safe healthier alternative.

Here are some common myths and proven facts about milk and pasteurization:

Pasteurizing milk DOES NOT cause lactose intolerance and allergic reactions. Both raw milk and pasteurized milk can cause allergic reactions in people sensitive to milk proteins.
Raw milk DOES NOT kill dangerous pathogens by itself.
Pasteurization DOES NOT reduce milk's nutritional value.
Pasteurization DOES NOT mean that it is safe to leave milk out of the refrigerator for extended time, particularly after it has been opened.
Pasteurization DOES kill harmful bacteria.
Pasteurization DOES save lives.

I guess you believe the good old FDA and USDA.

They are full of it so they can keep on with their reign the people agenda.

girlinahat

According to the CDC: "1,837 illnesses, 195 hospitalizations, and 2 deaths" of which, 82% were from raw milk. This is between 1998 and 2009.

now THAT's an interesting statistic. 1837 illnesses and 82% of them were from raw milk? What were the others from? Compared to what? Only 2 deaths between 1998 and 2009? Really? I mean, I thought more than 2 people died A DAY!!!!

context please context. That statistic means nothing.

I'm surprised the entire french population isn't extinct considering the consumption of unpasteurised dairy products they consume......

That statistic means a lot. Less than 3% of the US Population drinks raw milk. (So, that 3% accounting for 82% of illnesses shows a huge risk).

But, it also shows that while the risk is incredibly significantly higher, its not like it will immediately kill you the second you sip raw milk lol. Simply drinking pasteurized milk GREATLY reduces the risks with milk consumption, and is incredibly easy to do (harder to find raw milk!).

If you find the statistics meaningless, you should take a few math classes.

It is an OUT OF CONTEXT statistic. what are the 1837 illnesses referred to? I mean, surely more than that many people get sick during an 11 year period?

PaleoPath4Lyfe

when you are at the grocrey store look for the local milks. I know hannaford carries diffrent local brands, buy a regular bottle ( for the number) and call them. Most farms do it. At least in the US anyways.

If it is in the grocery store, it has been pasturized and homogenized. It is definitely NOT raw.

girlinahat

i have no axe to grind on this but why would you want raw milk over pastuerised milk?


Below is from the FDA

Raw Milk & Pasteurization: Debunking Milk Myths
While pasteurization has helped provide safe, nutrient-rich milk and cheese for over 120 years, some people continue to believe that pasteurization harms milk and that raw milk is a safe healthier alternative.

Here are some common myths and proven facts about milk and pasteurization:

Pasteurizing milk DOES NOT cause lactose intolerance and allergic reactions. Both raw milk and pasteurized milk can cause allergic reactions in people sensitive to milk proteins.
Raw milk DOES NOT kill dangerous pathogens by itself.
Pasteurization DOES NOT reduce milk's nutritional value.
Pasteurization DOES NOT mean that it is safe to leave milk out of the refrigerator for extended time, particularly after it has been opened.
Pasteurization DOES kill harmful bacteria.
Pasteurization DOES save lives.

I guess you believe the good old FDA and USDA.

They are full of it so they can keep on with their reign the people agenda.

Is that the same USDA that is the awarding body of the Tour de France (which I had previously thought a privately organised race) or have I got the wrong end of the the stick somewhere.....

OF COURSE!!! Now I get it, that damned EPO containing raw milk.......