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Raw milk has been hugely controversial for quite a while now. For some, it is seen as a tasteful treat, as well as a source of vitamins and nutrients in their purest form. For others, it is a bacteria-ridden dairy product that should be avoided at all costs, if you’re trying to save a trip to the hospital.
This unpasteurized product is still very common in farm life, but has been phased out nearly everywhere else due to FDA regulations – even being made illegal in some states. Knowing the pros and cons of raw milk will help you decide whether or not you want to add this dairy product to your diet.
The Pros
Proponents of the consumption of raw milk suggest that this type of milk has a sweeter and fresher taste. They also claim that the benefits include strengthening the immune system, as well as fighting conditions such as arthritis, digestive problems, autism and skin conditions like eczema.
In fact, a study published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology in June 2006, concluded that unpasteurized milk could help reduce the risk of suffering from allergies, as well as eczema.
Although raw milk has been said to cause food-borne illnesses, raw milk advocates counter with the fact that there are many other food products – such as raw vegetables and raw meat – that are larger sources of food borne illnesses. As a result – in their opinion – raw milk should not be singled out.
Some medical doctors support their patients consuming raw milk. Dr. Daniel Kalb, from Franklin, TN, for instance, says that raw milk contains more vitamins (such as vitamin B6) and nutrients, like manganese and other essential fatty acids, than pasteurized dairy. In an interview recently published in USA Today, he referenced seeing improvements in asthma and allergies symptoms among patients who drank raw milk. “When my patients ask me if it would be OK, I say absolutely,” said Dr. Kalb. “I give the caveat: if you’re sure of the source.”
Meanwhile, according Treehugger.com, “One benefit of raw milk is that producers willing to supply raw milk usually take a great deal of care with their animals. The use of hormones and chemicals is rare in this niche.”
The Cons
Those who are against the consumption of raw milk build their argument on the benefits of pasteurization. Before pasteurization, 25 percent of food and water-borne illnesses could be attributed to raw milk. Now that milk goes through pasteurization, only one percent of outbreaks are due to dairy products, although 70 percent of these are still due to raw milk.
An analysis conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) over a 13-year span showed that more than 1,500 people in the United States became ill from drinking raw milk or eating cheese products made from this milk. The CDC also explained that raw milk was 150 times more likely to cause food-borne illness when compared to pasteurized milk. Findings also showed that a person who consumes raw milk was 13 times more likely to be hospitalized due to food-borne illnesses.
Because of this, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) required that milk be pasteurized before consumption, beginning in 1987 in order to kill off the bacteria that led to these types of illnesses.
In an article published in USA Today, Faith Critzer, an assistant professor and food safety specialist with the University of Tennessee, said, “From 1998-2009, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention figures show, 1,837 people were made ill by raw milk, nearly 200 went to the hospital and two died. There are countless other cases never documented.”
It is because these statistics that, according to the Farm to Consumer Legal Defense Fund, 11 states have banned any sale of raw milk.
Where Can You and Can’t You Purchase Raw Milk?
So, where can you buy raw milk? Most U.S. states allow for the legal sale of raw milk. For example, Arizona, Idaho, New Mexico, South Carolina, California, Maine, Washington, Connecticut, New Hampshire and Pennsylvania all allow retail sales of goat and sheep raw milk.
However, if you live in Massachusetts, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Missouri, Texas, New York or Utah, sales are only legal in licensed farms if the producer owns and operates the store. Raw milk in these states can also be bought at a retail store only if the producer has majority ownership in the store.
Meanwhile, unlicensed on-farm sales of raw milk are legal in Arkansas, Minnesota, Nebraska, Oregon, Illinois, Mississippi, New Hampshire, Vermont, Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma. Keep in mind, though, that in most of these cases, there is a limit in the volume of goat milk sales.
Hershares/Cowshares in states like Arkansas, Michigan, Tennessee, Colorado, North Dakota, Wyoming, Idaho and Ohio are also allowed to sell raw milk, but they must be registered with the state.
If you live in states including Alabama, Indiana, Montana, Virginia, Delaware, Iowa, Nevada, West Virginia, Florida, Kentucky, New Jersey, Georgia, Hawaii, Maryland, Louisiana, North Carolina, and Rhode Island, it is illegal for you to buy raw milk for consumption. If you want to drink another kind of raw milk, you must have a doctor’s prescription. Goat milk, however, is still legally available.
For more information on these specific state regulations, visit: www.farmtoconsumer.org/raw_milk_map.htm.
Which Side is Right?
As you can see, there are strong arguments being made on both sides of the raw milk debate. Ultimately, deciding whether it’s right for you is a personal choice. Educating yourself about the benefits and risks you take when consuming unpasteurized milk will help you make the right decision for you and for your family.