When consumers hear the words “raw milk,” the first word that may come to mind for many is “unsafe.” Another word associated with raw milk today, however, is “illegal.” According to federal law, it is illegal to sell raw milk, as well as products created from it, in interstate commerce. This law has been in place, and strictly enforced, since 1987. In Kentucky, it is against the law to sell raw milk.
Milk seems harmless enough, so why is it a subject of debate? The U.S. Food and Drug Administration claims that raw milk, or unpasteurized milk, is a prime candidate to carry food-borne illnesses. For healthy individuals, recovery from these illnesses is relatively easy, but the FDA holds that those with weakened immune systems are more at risk. Also, the FDA states, those who consume raw milk or raw milk products over even a short amount of time are at risk of developing chronic illnesses.
While this is one view of raw milk, it is not the view held by all authorities on the subject. Some doctors even prescribe raw milk to their patients. Dr. Ron Schmid, a naturopathic physician practicing in Connecticut, where it is legal to sell and purchase the products with specific regulation, has recommended raw milk for decades. He states that “raw milk is the chief source of enzymes [that] I believe … are a critical component in recovering from disease and establishing and maintaining health.”
Also, Sir William Osler, a Canadian physician who lived mostly in the 19th century, considered raw milk “white blood” and used it quite like a medicine to treat various diseases.
So just how dangerous is dangerous? The Center for Disease Control (CDC) reported 300 cases of illnesses from raw milk and raw milk products in 2001 and 200 in 2002. While each individual involved in those 200-300 cases is indeed important, it is informative to note that cigarettes are legal and, according to the CDC, there were more than 400,000 deaths annually in the years 2000-2004 that were attributable to cigarette use.
There are many articles, books, forums and ongoing debates that delve into the subject of raw milk. Some feel that the laws against the selling of raw milk and its products go against rights Americans hold to choose the products they wish to consume and that the information out there about the dangers of raw milk lean more toward uninformed propaganda. However, others believe that the laws in place are for protection against things people may not know enough about to make informed decisions, or to keep milk producers at a standard through which only the best and healthiest product is
delivered.
Whatever side of the argument people are on, the best thing they can do is educate themselves. Awareness is key.
Because of the many different producers of milk, raw or otherwise, the “responsibility of knowing the safety of the food ultimately falls on the consumer,” said John-Mark Hack of Marksbury Farms. This idea seems quite sensible as there are many dangerous products out there, but the manufacturers’ hands are clean if they slap a warning label on the product. Why not for raw milk? Hack contends that the gray areas of the laws need to be clarified. Most people are not aware of the existence of raw milk, much less the reasoning behind the prohibition of it.
Hack also explained another reason why raw milk may have a bad reputation: “Raw milk from an industrialized commodity system is inherently unsafe. Raw milk from small-scale dairy production intended for raw consumption is a safe product.”
The tools and machinery used in larger farms can introduce bacteria, which is subsequently removed through pasteurization. If the milk does not go through the mass production machinery, it is safer for consumption, Hack said.
“Raw milk is also generally produced from cows that eat a primarily grass-based diet and are free grazing, while commodity milk comes from animals that are fed large amounts of grain, something that cows do not naturally digest, and often live in crowded conditions with limited access to free grazing,” Hack said.
The laws and regulations prevent one thing that is vital to any producer/consumer situation — a relationship. Setting aside the dangers — or lack thereof — of raw milk, one must evaluate the dependency we as consumers have on said laws and regulations. If the government deems a product safe or unsafe for consumption, it is still the responsibility of those consuming the product to make informed decisions on what they purchase. Part of these informed decisions would be to have a relationship with the producer. This has led to the fight for more local food production, a battle of which Lexington is on the
forefront.
So, whether one favors raw or pasteurized, there is far much more to consider in this dairy debate than what kind of cookies are best for dunking in the glass.