Raw Milk
---> April 1st, 2006 by annie
My husband quoted me on the Boar’s Head Tavern a few days ago saying “There’s a battle raging in the world right now over raw milk,” and although I am admittedly melodramatic, still, there is at least a healthy debate currently over raw milk. Proponents argue that pasteurization not only destroys the most beneficial nutrients of milk but that it also alters the shape and nature of the proteins, making them difficult for your body to process if not harmful. This explains, raw milk enthusiasts say, why milk allergies have dramatically increased, as well as other ills. The strongest opponents say that all such claims are unscientifically founded lies, while more mild dissenters simply argue that the risks of bacteria in raw milk are simply too dangerous in regards to mass public distribution. Delicious Organics which advocates raw milk footnotes their article with a helpful list of links, both pro and con on the issue. Google “raw milk” and you will find much, much more.
I am personally very torn on the issue. I agree that if all milk were raw, I am sure we would see a return and increase in bacterial infections and diseases whose threat at the present is long gone. However, is also seems pretty evident as well as scientifically founded that pasteurization renders milk less nutritious at the very least. What I am sure of is that I am going to breastfeed my babies as long as I can in order to just avoid the issue.
We bought part of a goat herd and now receive 1-2 gallons of fresh milk a week. My girls LOVE it. The family that we put in with has been milking their goats in a very careful and clean fashion for four years without incident. However, their children were all older whenever they started drinking raw milk. I feel pretty safe having healthy adults drink raw milk. I am a bit nervous about my 1 year old.
After a week of drinking raw milk, Audrey developed a fever and looked pretty sick. I freaked out and took her to the Doctor right away. The doctor did a quick blood test and her white blood cell count was slightly elevated so she took a blood culture and gave her a shot of their strongest antibiotic. I didn’t really want the latter, but I felt weak as well as paranoid, so I kept quiet. Turns out her blood culture was completely negative and she just had a virus.
I was pleasantly surprised that my doctor didn’t lecture me terribly about allowing the girls to drink raw milk. She said that there is a danger but the risk really isn’t very high if the farm is clean. I am still torn though. I really believe that raw milk is much more nourishing, but there is still a risk. Of course, pasteurized milk isn’t completely sterile either and can become contaminated as well, though the risk is lower. Good grief, why didn’t God make the world more free of risk? 
I thought of pumping extra bottles for Audrey from myself, but for heaven’s sake, I am not a human dairy. How much would I have to eat to keep that up!? Honestly, I don’t know what we will do. Today we have yummy raw goat’s milk, but I have a nervous feeling in the pit of my stomach. I tend to be a worry-wart.
Bacteria grow in milk because it is living, healthy, nutrient rich food. If you boil it and kill the bacteria to make it safe, you also kind of kill most of the reason for drinking it. What’s a mom to do?! At this point it seems to boil down to a personal choice based on your own family’s health. I personally don’t drink milk, but only eat yogurt and cheese. I love giving the nutrition of raw milk to my little tots, but I am afraid of infection. I guess nursing until 2 would be a good answer??? I invite input on the matter from those wiser than I!
Posted in Whole Cooking | 
April 1st, 2006 at 11:25 pm
My best friend has been drinking raw milk for about a year now. She gives it to her kids. She drank it when she was pregnant. She drinks it now that she’s nursing. She’s never been sick. The milk might not be pasteurized, but it is tested for harmful bacteria. I’m sorry it can’t be sold in Texas, but I’m glad to hear you’re able to get some from your goats.
Personally, I don’t drink milk, but if I did, I wouldn’t drink it raw. Gives me the creeps. HOWEVER, I cannot dispute all the amazing health benefits of raw milk and cheese products. I’m just a big chicken.
To top it all off, it is so expensive. Here in CA, its $8.00 for 1/2 gallon. And the milk is from CA!!
Crazy.
April 1st, 2006 at 11:42 pm
Here are a couple of questions to ask:
1) When did they start pasturizing milk?
2) Was that before or after we had efficient refrigeration?
3) Is pasturization needed, now that we have efficient refrigeration?
April 2nd, 2006 at 12:59 am
Great questions, Annie. I have the exact same ones…I’m pro-raw and pro-not, all at the same time. And I’m also jealous of your goat herd ownership. That is too cool! We used to buy goat milk from some Nubian owners, and the milk tasted just like cow milk. It was delish! Though she pasteurized it, interestingly enough, though she was as clean as a whistle.
April 2nd, 2006 at 1:50 am
We drank raw milk as kids - we’re fine. I feel nervous about buying raw milk from another source (not that I can in Oregon), but I would drink it from my own cow…which I’m thinking about…
I wish I liked goat’s milk better.
April 2nd, 2006 at 4:24 pm
We drank tons of raw milk growing up. I fed 3 of my babies raw milk (from our goat). My doctor knew and didn’t mind as long as I knew it was clean. None of us have ever been sick from it and we’ve been doing this for over 20 years. In fact, I’ve never personally heard of anyone getting sick from it.
I once heard someone say that you will just become immune to all the different bacterias in the milk and just be stronger for it. ?! All I know it that it’s only been a help to us!
April 2nd, 2006 at 7:34 pm
We do the raw milk. We really do like it. We’ve seen our children grow a lot healthier and sturdier from it. The family that sells it to us (well, we “pay” to keep the cow in feed…:) has two girls that drink it. I figure…if they get sick, they are going to know…:)
Really - they are very, very clean about it all. I admit to feeling a little worried when I started my prone to illness son on it…but he has done great.
I understand your hesitation, though!
April 2nd, 2006 at 7:51 pm
I just stumbled onto your blog, and thought I’d share my milk experience. I once was engaged to a fellow whose mother had nubians for a number of years, and I remember the milking process was something she was adamant about (I think she used iodine to sanitize the nipples). She was lactose intolerant and loved the goat’s milk to drink. I always thought it was amazing, and that family has never had any issues with the milk.
Honestly, I wouldn’t worry about it being raw so long as you control the goats’ living conditions and health as well as diet. Good luck!
April 2nd, 2006 at 8:53 pm
Wow! Thanks for all the comments, I feel much better! I would be nervous buying raw milk from just anywhere, but a trusted family seems to work well for many people. Thank you for taking the time to post your experiences. My mind had decided that the benefits of the raw milk outweighed the risk, but momma’s nerves were still “raw”. You all have helped reassure me. The girls do LOVE it.
April 2nd, 2006 at 9:40 pm
We drink raw milk that we buy from a local Christian farmer. We’ve never had a problem with it, and quite frankly, it’s the only milk my son (almost 2 - in just 2 weeks!) will drink. (besides my own….)
April 3rd, 2006 at 6:07 am
I grew up on an Iowa farm where we only drank raw milk. We had our own milk cows and drank raw milk for the entire 18 years I lived at home. We were rarely sick. I don’t know if we were so healthy because of the milk or the fact that mom “made” us eat “oatmeal” every morning. (I have just now gained a healthy respect for “oatmeal”; as I hated it growing up).
April 4th, 2006 at 10:06 am
I think all these folks have a point! If the milk comes from a clean farm, the animals are healthy and they are eating a proper diet then raw milk is fine. Pasturized milk is useless to drink, in my opinion. There are plenty of cultures that get along just fine without dairy at all. In fact, I read a study about an Asian culture (Japanese? I don’t remember) who never get osteoporosis or breast cancer and they don’t drink milk after weaning.
The dairy industry in America has all infected us with the lie that milk is essential for healthy bones. There are other sources of calcium.
I drank milk all the time as a child and all it did for me was give me severe allergies, lactose intolerance and acne. Plus, I broke my arm 3 times, my toes and fingers countless times. So much for strong bones.
I say, if it isn’t raw and from a good source go dairy free!
August 23rd, 2006 at 1:11 pm
[…] When I found out about Elisa’s milk allergy I asked if organic milk would make any difference. I was told no and although they’re probably right I wondered if the absence of regular milk in our world would have prevented it. Well, the news is even worse. Pasteurization and homogenization may be a cause of all the milk allergies today. Read Annie on milk. […]