Is Pasteurization an Important Safety Measure or an Unnecessary Health Risk?
by www.SixWise.com
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We are not surprised, therefore, that we draw readers like
you, who are not easily swayed by convention and, in many
of the areas we cover, can bring some very important insights
of your own to the table. Like no other question we have asked
you previously, these traits proved themselves with this question
of the necessity of pasteurization ...
Almost unanimously you answered, often shouting (by using
CAPITAL LETTERS) to show your passion, that pasteurization
is NOT necessary. If it possibly may be necessary in some
cases, many of stated that at least consumers should be given
the CHOICE of making their own decisions between unpasteurized
and pasteurized.
Regarding dairy in particular, unpasteurized dairy is still
not available in grocery stores in almost any state, BUT the
good news is that - with people learning the incredible health
benefits of clean raw dairy - more and more "cowshare"
programs are becoming available. In short, in a cowshare program
you buy into ownership of a cow along with others and that
entitles you to their fresh milk. After reading the selection
of reader responses on this issue below, you'll find a link
to the best list of cowshare programs in and outside of the
United States, if you are interested.
Is Pasteurization an Important Safety Measure
or an Unnecessary Health Risk?
Select Reader Responses ...
I think with most things we can buy that the choice should
be allowed and the responsibility to know what is best should
be left to the individual consumer.
-- Mark Judd, Rochester, NY
I personally would drink raw milk if it was readily available.
However, I think that both pasteurized and raw milk should
be available to everyone so we can decide which one is right
for ourselves and our family.
Donna Rocheleau, Manitowoc, WI
I think I should have the option of drinking raw milk, not
the government telling me I cannot. I have the sense to know
what is best for me, not the FDA and its cronies.
-- Charlie, Louisville, KY
The research I have done on the subject leads me to believe
that we should be using raw milk products or avoid dairy entirely,
especially in light of the recent "ultra-pasteurization"
process that has overtaken the industry. I have personally
used raw milk when ever I have been able to obtain it (the
sale of raw milk is illegal in Colorado except for cowshare
programs), and it is a health promoting substance. Ultra-pasteurization
creates a "dead" substance more harmful that beneficial.
I think the FDA should quit "protecting" us from
raw milk products and legalize the use for those who want
to take the risk.
-- Karen Fischer, Durango, Colorado
Pasteurization is NOT, NOT, NOT an important safety measure--unless
you raise or handle the product unsanitarily. My family has
consumed ONLY raw cow and goat milk for 3 years now (the goat
milk being from our own goat) and have NEVER gotten sick--or
died--from it. We also eat a lot of other unpasteurized foods,
such as raw egg yolks (from our own hens), unpasteurized juices,
raw cheese, etc.
--Lucy C., Redmond, WA
Pasteurization is a health risk because sloppy production
and government regulations allow more contamination and because
the high heat processing destroys the original nutritional
elements, and changes the fat so the end product should not
even be called milk or depended upon for good absorption of
nutritional needs.
-- Jan Wimberley, Buhl, Idaho
WE agree raw milk is much better and find it to be more easily
digested due to enzymes and other components not destroyed
in pasteurization. We use raw goat milk and cheese and love
it! We will not use pasteurized milk again given a choice!
-- June Pierson, Richmond, VA
I believe that pasteurization is an unnecessary health risk.
It is currently fairly difficult to get raw milk in Illinois.
Hopefully this can be changed in the future.
-- Mike Albers, Batavia, IL
I believe pasteurization diminishes health in many ways.
I feel raw milk should be made available for those who want
it. It is an awesome product and feel blessed to have found
a share program so I can purchase raw milk for my family.
-- Maggie Beauvais, New Richmond, WI
I am absolutely of the belief that pasteurization is an unnecessary
health risk at the least contributing to the epidemic level
of "lactose intolerance."
-- Kathleen Sullivan CNC, Forest Park, IL
Pasteurization is unnecessary. I have had my young family
on raw milk for almost a year now through a cow share program,
and we have not had any problems with it whatsoever. My young
son who had an allergic reaction to dairy previously(swollen
eyes and red blotches all over his face)has had no reaction
to the raw milk.
-- Christine Hannon, Plainfield, IL
I raised my children almost entirely on raw milk as a choice
over pasteurized milk. As a nutrition major in college, we
noted the changes in milk quality with heat. As dairies now
have greater ability to be clean in their processing, raw
milk should be allowed under inspection that is now required.
-- Laurel, NC
High heat pasteurization kills and changes the composition
of milk. Period. This is nothing more than man fiddling with
something that has been health-giving throughout time: raw,
unhomegenized milk. Nothing tasted better than raw, unhomegenized
milk! For those squeamish about completely raw milk, there
is another form of pasteurization which does not kill the
milk, but does eliminate some rare diseases that could be
passed through raw milk. Ask the question: how and why did
HOMOGENIZATION begin? The answer is an interesting study in
greed, rather than need! Want some answers on raw versus ultra
pasteurized versus low heat pasteuriztion? Contact Happy Cow
Dairy in South Carolina! Tell Tom Trantham (owner) that Page
at Pure-Zing sent you. His number is: 864-243-9699. You will
learn more about milk talking to this man, than you can find
out anywhere! His grass-fed cows produce the highest CLA (cancer
fighting goodies) of any milk in the United States! We need
hundreds more dairies like his!!
-- Page Remick Pure-Zing! www.purezing.com topage@hotmail.com
904-461-3555 (FL.)
I think it is an unnecessary health risk. As a baby, I was
failing health-wise, until I was put on raw milk. At that
point I thrived!
Raw milk is by far superior. Pasteurization is a poor substitute
for good dairy farming .
Have you ever tasted raw cottage cheese? What a wonderful
treat and you never want damaged cottage cheese again.
Cars have killed off more people in the US than all of our
past wars combined! And we freely and wilfully drive each
and every day with very few government restrictions. And in
addition to this, our governments continue to put up large
barriers to implementing any type of environmentally friendly,
non-fossil fuel burning, electric powered transit system alternatives.
So if drinking unpasteurized milk does not kill of people
in large numbers as does automobiles, then it should be safe
enough to us to drink! :-)
Having grown up drinking raw milk on our summer farm in western
MA, I believe pasteurization is now an unnecessary health
risk. I want Massachusetts to approve the sale of raw milk,
to continue dairy inspections and if necessary carry out the
tests you have cited. My mother, dying this summer at 103
with all of her faculties and senses, drank nothing but raw
milk during her growing years.
I drank unpasteurized milk as a kid. I now drink unpasteurized
now, from my goats. I have never got sick from drinking unpasteurized
milk. We had our milk tested, and it has less bacteria, than
the legal limit for pasteurized milk. Look at how many thousands
of years, the human race has survived, on this earth, drinking
unpasteurized milk.
It is definitely an unncecessary health risk propagated by
the FDA and the Dairy Industry, all in the name of corporate
greed.
An unnecessary health risk!!! My husband has had allergies
to pasteurized dairy products his entire life...mucous etc.
He can drink 2 gallons of clean raw milk a week plus raw cheese
with no problems. Pasteurized dairy does not cross our doorway!
The comment by the guy from the FDA stating that drinking
raw milk is like playing Russian roulette is ridiculous! He
will probably tell you that nothing is wrong with using a
microwave either. ;-)
Pasteruization is a measure for profits only so large amounts
of milk can make it more miles to more stores and last longer.
It has no nutritional benefit and should not qualify as a
food! Follow the money, our food industry is full of corruption.
Instead of "Got Milk?" The slogan should read, "Got
Disease?"
I think unfortunately it is necessary due to unavoidable
greed and corruption in all industries, but I personally do
not consume milk because I do think pasteurization is harmful.
If I had a very reliable source of raw milk I would use that.
I weaned and raised my children on raw milk. They were very
healthy at that time. For the past several years we have used
pasteurized milk. I am very happy to report I have found an
excellent source for raw milk and will continue to use unpasteurized
milk as long as I can find it. It is unnecessary to pasteurize
milk.
I believe pasteurization is an unnecessary health risk. When
I could get raw milk I found it not only tasted better, but
neither I nor my family ever had any problems with it. I sure
would like it to be more readily available.
Pasteurized milk causes me to break out on my face and I
feel sick in my stomach. Raw milk feels great when I am drinking
it and no ill effects of any kind afterwards.
I support the idea of making certified raw milk available
to consumers. It is strange to me that there should be so
much hysteria about consuming a food which people have eaten
for thousands of years. I agree that if you have unhealthy
cows raised in unhealthy conditions then there is a public
health risk, but that goes for any food, and pasteurized milk
seems to be more susceptible to contamination than raw. I
wish that healthy raw milk from healthy cows could be made
available to consumers so that we can make our own decisions
about what food to eat.
The best list of cowshare
programs within and beyond the United States that we know
of is at:
http://www.realmilk.com/where2.html