Anyone drink Raw milk?

[FireDancer]

Pasteurization is not the same as sterilization. Pasteurization is not intended to destroy all pathogenic micro-organisms in the food or liquid. Instead, pasteurization aims to reduce the number of viable pathogens so they are unlikely to cause disease (assuming pasteurization product is stored as indicated and consumed before its expiration date).

You are right, it only kills 99.999% of the number of viable micro-organisms in milk, not 100%. It still makes no distinction between those that are benign, beneficial, and harmful so it is pretty much the text book definition of throwing the baby out with the bathwater.

Regardless, do your (not you, general your) research and come to your own conclusion. In those places where it is legal to purchase it I think it is great for those that choose to and wish more people had the option.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

E. coli is a type of bacteria that normally lives in the intestines of humans and animals without causing any problems. However, there are over 700 serotypes of E. coli, some of which are very pathogenic. E. coli O157:H7 in particular, caused significant illness and a few deaths. It resides in the cow gastrointestinal tract, and produces the Shiga toxin. It has been identified as the source of contamination in ground beef, venison, sausages, dried (non-cooked) salami, unpasteurized milk and cheese, unpasteurized apple juice and cider and others.

Don't forget to add raw milk as a source of 0157.

Not a germ you want to mess with.

For those following along, from the CDC: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5608a3.htm

E. coli O157:H7 causes an estimated 73,000 illnesses and 61 deaths annually in the United States (2). Approximately 8% of reported infections lead to HUS [ie kidney failure], particularly in children aged <5 years and older adults (3); 4% of patients with HUS die (4). Raw milk is an important vehicle of transmission of E. coli O157:H7 and other pathogens, including Mycobacterium bovis, Listeria monocytogenes, and Campylobacter, Brucella, and Salmonella species (5,6). During 1988--2005, a total of 33 outbreaks of Campylobacter species, E. coli O157:H7, and Salmonella species infections associated with raw milk consumption were reported to CDC (7).

Although many consumers are aware that raw milk can contain pathogens, some believe that it has potential benefits (e.g., vitamins that are present naturally rather than added, enhanced fertility, and protection against tooth decay). However, the validity of any health or nutritional benefits from consuming raw milk has not been proven scientifically (6).

Raw milk is a well-documented cause of enteric infections and was first recognized as one approximately 100 years ago (6). Pathogens that infect humans, including E. coli O157:H7, are shed in the feces of cows and can contaminate milk during the milking process. Using standard hygiene practices during milking (e.g., washing hands, keeping equipment clean, and keeping the milking area separated from other areas) can reduce but not eliminate the risk for milk contamination. Pasteurization decreases the number of pathogenic organisms, prevents transmission of pathogens, and has been determined to improve the safety of raw milk more than other measures, including certification of raw milk (8). Because raw milk certification has failed to prevent many raw-milk--associated infections in the past, consumers should not assume that certified raw milk is free of pathogens (9). To prevent E. coli O157:H7 and other infections, consumers should not drink raw milk.

Early in the 20th century, widespread adoption of the pasteurization process led to substantial reductions in milk-associated disease, a milestone in the history of food safety (10). In the 21st century, more effective consumer education regarding the hazards of drinking raw milk is needed to further reduce milk-associated diseases.

I sincerely hope this information helps *someone* avoid becoming sick.

Hey, if people are fully informed of the risks and want to drink raw milk, then that's up to them.

I feel sorry for the people who have no idea about how serious the hazards can be and get sick from drinking it unsuspectingly.

Dis Friends, when it comes to raw milk, Buyer Beware!

 

[punkin]

I drank raw milk as a child but I certainly would not want to drink raw milk from a factory-farm cow.