There is controversy about raw milk with its pure probiotics, its healthy bacteria, and whether it's a smart choice as a beverage. Grocery stores across America sell pasteurized milk, but raw milk is found at the farm. The debate is not only about health and safety concerns, but also whether it is the role of the United States Government to protect people from themselves and the food they choose to consume.
Raw Milk and Sally Fallon Morell — Weston A. Price Foundation
Consuming raw milk is the best choice, according to Sally Fallon Morell, president of the Weston A. Price Foundation and author of Nourishing Traditions: Cookbook that Challenges Politically Correct Nutrition and the Diet Dictocrats. Fallon Morell says: "Both raw and pasteurized milk harbor bacteria but the bacteria in raw milk is the healthy bacteria of lactic-acid fermentation while the bacteria in pasteurized milk is the bacteria of spoilage."
Raw milk is where these natural, pure probiotics are found. Pasteurization kills the healthy bacteria, thus leaving the consumer without the benefits of the bacteria that is helpful in digestion. Heating milk to kill bacteria also removes the helpful digestive enzymes that break down foods being consumed.
"Back in the days when scientists at our universities did real research," Fallon Morell states, "they compared the health of children fed raw or pasteurized milk. Children fed raw milk have more resistance to TB, scurvy, flu, diphtheria, pneumonia, asthma, allergic skin problems and tooth decay. In addition, their growth and calcium absorption was superior."
The FDA continues to regulate the sale of raw milk in stores and across state borders from farms, but for many, raw milk can be bought on dairy farms in their state through herd share programs. There are laws - and each state is different - regarding crossing state lines with the raw milk for sale. It would be wise to check individual state laws when looking to purchase raw milk so buyers do not find themselves participating in illegal matters with their food.
Is Raw Milk Safe for Children?
The question, "is raw milk safe for children" needs to be addressed as more parents are wanting nutritional understanding of what they are feeding their babies and even older children. A book that speaks with authority on this subject is Pottenger's Cats: A Study in Nutrition by Dr. Francis M. Pottenger Jr.
Dr. Pottenger speaks much on raw food, giving pictures and X-rays of nutritionally deficient children. He says, speaking of using raw milk for children, "We cannot afford to lessen the resistance of our children to respiratory infection, asthma, bronchitis and the common cold. Essential minerals, fats, proteins, hormones, enzymes, and antibodies - all present in the finest raw milk - promote good health among young and old alike."
So, is raw milk safe for children? Dr. Pottenger emphatically states: "Optimum raw milk is one of the best and cheapest foods available for infants and children." There's no room for debate for him and his research though the FDA says otherwise.
The Raw Milk Wars
On July 27, 2011, Bill Marler, an attorney who deals with food borne litigation and Sally Fallon Morell discussed the debate between raw milk and pasteurized milk. The discussion took place on the Kojo Nnamdi Show on WAMU 88.5. As of the date of this article, the audio can still be heard online.
During the discussion, Fallon Morell was asked how she feels about pasteurization. Her response was: "We had three people die of pasteurized milk in 2007 in Massachusetts, so just because you're pasteurizing is no guarantee that it's safe and what the FDA and regulators refuse to admit is what is in the scientific literature that raw milk contains many components that kill pathogens." She also stated that "pasteurized milk has become the number one allergen."
Bill Marler, the attorney on the case of a man who died from the pasteurized milk said the man's death was not due to the milk being pasteurized, but that the milk was contaminated post-pasteurization. Marler said he is not against raw milk, but just wants it regulated. "If I was so anti-raw milk," he said, "don't you think I would spend my time changing the laws here?" He went on to say that drinking raw milk is not a choice he would make for himself nor his children, but that he just wants regulation so no one becomes ill. He believes it should be a debate for each state and citizens of that state.
The question still remains about why the sale of raw eggs and raw meat is still legal. Some people called into the show about this very topic. Why are citizens of the Unites States trusted when it comes to them purchasing raw meat and eggs from stores, but not raw milk?
The discussion on on Kojo Nnamdi's show, The Raw Milk Wars, is one that will help those researching what their options are for their family regarding raw milk. It also gives a good understanding of how regulated the sale of raw milk is by the FDA and at the state level.
Go for Raw Milk or Just Go Organic?
"Go organic" is what most people say is the best, healthiest choice, but is it? Many people have not heard much about the benefits of raw milk from the farm in comparison to organic milk from the store.
Certified organic milk can be purchased in many stores across the nation, but they are still pasteurized. To "go organic" means saying "no" to conventional, processed milk with all the hormones, but because of the pasteurization, it also means saying "no" to the healthy bacteria, enzymes, and other nutrients people have received for thousands of years prior to the United States government's involvement of the sale of raw milk.
Further Information About Raw Milk
Information about raw milk and where to buy it locally can be found through the Weston A. Price Foundation. The organization offers help in understanding the health benefits of raw milk including the good bacteria necessary for digestion. They have local chapters and links to help consumers.
For laws concerning the sale of raw milk and what the agency says about the subject, see the FDA's website.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this article is for educational purposes only and should not be used for diagnosis or to guide treatment without the opinion of a health professional. Any reader who is concerned about his or her health should contact a doctor for advice.
Related Reading
For those who enjoyed this article, you may want to refer to the following:
Sources:
Fallon Morell, Sally. Is Raw Milk Safe for Babies? Weston A. Price Foundation. December 31, 2001.
The Kojo Nnamdi Show. The Raw Milk Wars. July 27, 2011
Pottenger Jr., Francis M. Pottenger's Cats: A Study in Nutrition. Price Pottenger Nutrition. Second Edition 1995.
Tamara Slack - My name is Tamara Slack and as far back as I can remember, I have been in love with the written word. I once asked my husband what words ...
Join the Conversation