Raw milk

[Rye Miles #13621]

Anyone drink this milk? I’ve never tried it myself. Just curious. It doesn’t seem unhealthy but it does have some possible side effects.

 

This from a web search,

1.  

   There are no clear health benefits to consuming raw milk that cannot be obtained from pasteurized milk, and the risks of serious illness from harmful bacteria in raw milk are significant. Medical experts generally recommend choosing pasteurized milk for safety.

    Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Washington State

    

   Overview of Raw Milk Benefits

   Raw milk is unpasteurized milk that some people believe offers various health benefits. However, many of these claims lack scientific support. Here’s a breakdown of the purported benefits and the associated risks.

   Purported Benefits

   Nutritional Claims

   • Natural Nutrients: Proponents argue that raw milk contains natural enzymes, beneficial bacteria, and nutrients that are lost during pasteurization.
   • Lactose Digestion: Some suggest that raw milk may help those with lactose intolerance due to the presence of lactase enzymes.

   Immune System Support

   • Allergy and Asthma Prevention: Some studies indicate that children consuming raw milk may have lower rates of asthma and allergies, although these findings are debated and not universally accepted.

   Health Risks

   Foodborne Illness

   • Pathogen Exposure: Raw milk can harbor harmful bacteria such as E. coli, Salmonella, and Listeria, which can lead to severe foodborne illnesses.
   • Vulnerable Populations: Children, pregnant women, the elderly, and immunocompromised individuals are at higher risk for serious health complications from consuming raw milk.

   Lack of Proven Benefits

   • No Clear Advantages: The medical community largely agrees that the risks of consuming raw milk outweigh any potential benefits. Pasteurized milk provides similar nutritional value without the associated health risks.

   Conclusion

   While some people advocate for the benefits of raw milk, the consensus among health experts is that pasteurized milk is a safer choice. It offers the same nutritional benefits without the dangers of foodborne illness.

Edited January 18 by Rye Miles #13621

[Subdeacon Joe]

A LONG time ago. I don't recall it tasting any different.

[Rye Miles #13621]

In Ohio, the only place I  can get it is from the AMISH. It’s tricky because it’s illegal to sell in Ohio. The farms can offer a “herd-share”. You pay a fee and you’re technically part owner in the farm. You can then purchase milk, cream, butter and other products using raw milk. 

Edited January 18 by Rye Miles #13621

[Marshal Mo Hare, SASS #45984]

I used to

[DukeSoprano]

My company pasteurizes  22 Million lbs of milk per month, there is no way I would drink raw milk.

[Horace Patootie, SASS #35798]

Some years ago, this was a "thing" with some people.  I knew a few people who drank raw milk.  

Horace

[Rye Miles #13621]

7 minutes ago, Horace Patootie, SASS #35798 said:

Some years ago, this was a "thing" with some people.  I knew a few people who drank raw milk.  

Horace

It seems to be resurfacing again since the administration has recommended Whole Milk in conjunction with the new food pyramid. I think some people are confusing “whole milk” with “raw milk”. Just MHO 

[Lawdog Dago Dom]

Yes. Love it.

Does not make my guts gurgle like store milk.

$4/gallon from Amish

[Imis Twohofon,SASS # 46646]

My first wife's father was a dairy farmer in the 1970's. We would take clean milk jugs to the barn, turn on the stirrer and run off a couple of gallons. None of the family that did that ever had any issues from the raw milk. That was a long time ago.

 

Imis

[Cypress Sun]

Two ladies are talking with each other in an office one day when one of them notices the other has very nice skin.

 

She asks the lady how she keeps her skin so soft and natural looking.

 

The lady with the nice skin tells her that she soaks herself in a tub of milk for an hour once a month.

 

The curious lady decides she's going to try doing the milk soak so she finds a dairy farmer and visits his farm.

 

She tells the farmer that she wants to buy enough milk to soak her body in.

 

The farmer thinks it's an odd request but agrees to provide the milk.

 

He asks the lady "Do you want the milk pasteurized?"

 

She replies "No, just up to my breasts would be fine."

[Gracos Kid]

I grew up as a child and we had a milk cow that my Dad milked morning and night.....The milk was delicious and my mother churned our own butter.  I know that most of our neighbors did the same thing and to my knowledge no ill effects.........

[Smokin Gator SASS #29736]

We have goats. One just had 2 babies yesterday morning. My wife will start milking in eight weeks. She absolutely loves it. At first I got a small glass to taste it and see if it tasted funny. Finally I poured a full glass and took a big drink. Delicious. She also makes cheese out of it. We'll have it for until about August when she stops.

 

She works at 6am so is out there about 4am milking. She loves it saying how quiet and peaceful it is at that time. Where we live it's 100+ degrees in summer so cool and nice at 4am.

[Stump Water]

Grandparents (both sides) had a milk cow and made their own butter until I was pert near gro'd up.  So I've had it.  Once the cream is skimmed off it's more like store-bought 2% milk to me.  Don't care for it, but that doesn't mean a lot because I don't like milk in any form... unless you've turned it into white gravy.  

 

It's not illegal to sell raw milk in NC, but it has to be labeled, "Not for human consumption".   Prior to 2025 it could be sold labeled as "pet milk" or you could do the herd share thing Rye mentioned, but new legislation put the kibosh on those.

 

 

[Rip Snorter]

As a boy I was guest on a farm / lake place in Canada several times in the Summer.  They had their own cows and processed the milk.  Don't believe I had raw milk, but home pasteurized was nasty!

[John Kloehr]

Tenessee is also a herd share state. Basic overview:

 

https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/health/documents/HerdShareGuidance.pdf

 

I'm sure I have had raw milk at some point, not recently though.

Edited January 18 by John Kloehr

[Michigan Slim]

Growing up we had friends on a dairy farm. Drank right from the tank. 

[Grumpy Old Man]

Grew up on raw milk.

[Texas Jack Black]

 Been drinking it for 50 years .   

[Sheriff Dill]

We used to get raw milk from a local farm here in VT. There are many benefits from drinking raw milk. Also lots of information and people will tell you never drink it as it’s not healthy or safe. When you open a gallon of whole milk from the store you don’t see any layer on top. Before you open a container of raw milk you need to shake it to mix the top layer of fats in. 
 

My wife and kids loved it. I don’t care for milk of any kind raw or processed. For me the raw milk definitely tastes extremely different than store bought milk. But I felt like it had a very strong after taste. Another great option is raw goats milk. Definitely more expensive but great tasting and is great for milk sensitivities. 

[Warden Callaway]

Before 1900, most people lived on a farm or had a big lot that included farm animals and food plots.  Then cities explored and trains ran that could bring foods in from far away. Pasteurization was a way to keep and milk for several days. 

 

We've drank raw milk for many years from a guy in our neighborhood that we trusted.  I seem to digest it better. 

[watab kid]

yes , a long time ago in the 50s , on the farm when i was at my aunt and uncles , but i think some of the delivery back then was unpasturized as the cream rose to the top , we got like 4 bottles in a wire crate delivered to the door daily , sent the bottles bacxk to be refilled , 

 

on another line but related a bit my father always got cases of north star beer in nreturnable bottles back in the 60s too - my friends and i upped his weekly purchase considerably but he never complained about that , it was the gas use in the car i was driving that he complained about , what can i say - multiple girlfriends in a few different towns sat that time ....it was a couple years later i settled on one - that was a mmistake ill never get to do over 

[Pulp, SASS#28319]

I know from experience that it is a lot easier to pour milk into your cereal bowl from a carton or plastic jug than a wide mouth one gallon glass jar.  I made a mess or two that way.

But I always like raw much better than store bought.  

[DukeSoprano]

You old timers will get a kick out of this, we run whole milk unhomogenized for a cheese company, years ago the pasteurizer operator forgot to turn the homogenizer back on and the milk ended up in gallon jugs. I can't count how many calls I got saying the milk was spoiled because it was think on the top.

[WD Farren]

We notice that store brand “organic” lasts a whole lot longer than store brand generic.

[Rye Miles #13621]

Due to my lactose intolerance, I have to buy Lactaid milk. It’s regular milk but the lactose is removed. I wonder how Raw Milk would affect me.

Edited January 19 by Rye Miles #13621

[Smokin Gator SASS #29736]

From what I understand this is where the goat milk is easier on some people.

[Pat Riot]

When I was a kid we drank raw milk. You had to shake the jug to mix the cream with milk. We also got farm fresh eggs and butter.  
My parents felt that store bought milk had unwanted government ingredients though I never did get a straight answer on what my Dad & Mom thought those ingredients might be. 

Best bowl of cereal you can have is when you use milk with cream in it. I sometimes add cream to my cereal and milk. 

[watab kid]

obly time of year that i had raw milk was when we were on my aunt and uncles dairy farm , the rest of the year we got milk delivered to the door from the local dairy coop , came in returnable bottles in a wire caddy , delivered daily at the door , in the winter it was often frozen , by the time it was retrieved from the stoop but not all that bad - it thawed quickly , 

 

in the 60s we bought it at the neighborhood grocery , it was pasturized in the delivery and the purchased it was only on the farm that i got fresh milk - i dont recall noting a difference but i was a kid then and didnt know what pasturizing meant or why it might be needed , ive not been able to cponsume a lot of milk since that time , so im not a voice in the further discussion beyond saying ive always prefered whole milk and raw milk for my consumption 

[Rye Miles #13621]

5 hours ago, watab kid said:

obly time of year that i had raw milk was when we were on my aunt and uncles dairy farm , the rest of the year we got milk delivered to the door from the local dairy coop , came in returnable bottles in a wire caddy , delivered daily at the door , in the winter it was often frozen , by the time it was retrieved from the stoop but not all that bad - it thawed quickly , 

 

in the 60s we bought it at the neighborhood grocery , it was pasturized in the delivery and the purchased it was only on the farm that i got fresh milk - i dont recall noting a difference but i was a kid then and didnt know what pasturizing meant or why it might be needed , ive not been able to cponsume a lot of milk since that time , so im not a voice in the further discussion beyond saying ive always prefered whole milk and raw milk for my consumption 

In the fifties and early 60’s we had a milk man. He also delivered butter and cream. We had a milk chute which I still have on my house. I remember the the glass bottles as well.

Edited January 20 by Rye Miles #13621

[watab kid]

7 hours ago, Rye Miles #13621 said:

In the fifties and early 60’s we had a milk man. He also delivered butter and cream. We had a milk chute which I still have on my house. I remember the the glass bottles as well.

yes , in the 50s i dont recall my mother ever buying milk at a grocery store , 

[WD Farren]

Being a labile diabetic I shun milk in favor of cream.  Much less carbs.