The Consumption of Raw Milk Holds Potential Health Risks

According to the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the consumption of raw milk holds potential health risks because of the dangerous microorganisms it contains. Despite the warning from the FDA, raw milk drinkers and producers defy it. They say it is a healthier approach in drinking milk. For them, it contains the nutrients that pasteurized milk does not have. It helps build strong bones and teeth. Not only that, it has the capacity to promote optimal growth and development. Even the immune system is boosted a notch higher.

Raw milk must undergo pasteurization. It undergoes a process of heating to a certain degree of temperature for a specific length of time. After that, a cooling process happens. This approach inhibits bacterial growth similar to the process of aging wine.

It's no way similar to sterilization. What it does is that it minimizes the number of potential pathogens that are likely to cause various diseases. E.coli, Listeria, Salmonella are among the pathogens that exists in raw milk. Another benefit of pasteurization is that it prolongs the shelf life of milk.

So why is it that there's still a raw vs. pasteurized milk debate? Raw milk consumers believe that pasteurization will obliterate the proteins and enzymes that aid in the digestion and immune system. What is more is that, the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology claims that unpasteurized milk decreases the incidence of allergy, asthma, hay fever and eczema. It reduces the level of histamine inside the body.

In lieu with the FDA regulation, administrators have taken legal action against a Pennsylvanian farmer distributing unpasteurized milk in different states. That action had led the Grassfed on the Hill Buying Club to protest against the FDA jurisdiction. Grassfed on the Hill Buying Club has over a thousand members of Maryland and Washington raw milk consumers. And they are willing to fight over the dispute against the Pennsylvanian farmer. Their founder strongly believes that it is their right to get the food of their choice according to their values. They believe that it's a private matter that shouldn't be interfered by government agencies