Raw Milk...

[Revok]

Most raw milk dairies are grassfed. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe E. coli only develops in cows eating a grain based diet. True or no? The reason commercial milk needs to be pasteurized is because of the extremely close quarters in massive dairies resulting in filthy conditions.

Most, you say. Thankfully state agencies, even one as venal and corrupt as the FDA, cannot and should not accept such low safety standards.

I'm all for supporting people's rights to purchase raw milk from trusted local vendors (caveat emptor), but criticising the ban on the widescale sale of the stuff is idiotic IMO. Reasons of superior taste and vaguely-defined health claims aren't enough to counterbalance the non-trivial level of risk raw milk presents to peoples' lives.

Spring water could be said to be tastier and healthier than tapwater, but nobody's making a case against chlorination.

 

[Cayenne]

Lol @ Revok you might as well have a sticker on your forehead that reads "brainwashed idiot"

Raw milk and raw milk products are legal in many European countries; France, Italy, UK, Germany, Spain, etc. You don't see anyone dropping dead from e coli or some other fear mongering nonsense. Americans are such wusses it's ridiculous.

 

[Seriously-Dead]

Most, you say. Thankfully state agencies, even one as venal and corrupt as the FDA, cannot and should not accept such low safety standards.

I'm all for supporting people's rights to purchase raw milk from trusted local vendors (caveat emptor), but criticising the ban on the widescale sale of the stuff is idiotic IMO. Reasons of superior taste and vaguely-defined health claims aren't enough to counterbalance the non-trivial level of risk raw milk presents to peoples' lives.

Spring water could be said to be tastier and healthier than tapwater, but nobody's making a case against chlorination.

Lulz. If the FDA actually cared about E. Coli counts they would ban all non-pastured grain/hay fed meat. There's no reasonable argument for banning pastured grass fed raw milk. With a grain fed cow, it only takes 5 days of grass feeding to reduce E. Coli counts 1000 fold. There's 10^6 more acid resistant E. Coli in grain fed beef vs. grass fed cattle.

Then again, who cares when you spray the meat with ammonia!

 

[Revok]

There's no reasonable argument for banning pastured grass fed raw milk.

Other than the depressing fact that the entire country's agricultural system is hopelessly dependent upon corn. Were that to change, then the Europe comparisons would be valid.

 

[miaou]

If my understanding of the OP i correct, FDA is not banning raw milk, it is banning the interstate sale of raw milk. It specifically states they don't target anyone selling/buying raw milk intrastate, or even carrying raw milk interstate for personal use.

This doesn't seem like a big deal. I don't see why ppl in this thread act like they had their panties all mixed up.

 

[miaou]

Also, since some guys talked about europe, you know how people handle raw milk in the greek countryside? Fucking boil it before they drink it/give it to their children.

 

[Mountain Dew]

Raw milk is illegal in Australia from my understanding, but you can technically buy it for "cosmetic" purposes. Thoughts?

 

[Long Dark Blues]

Raw milk is illegal in Australia from my understanding, but you can technically buy it for "cosmetic" purposes. Thoughts?

I wouldn't drink it simply because the regulations might not be as stringent. But if I lived in Australia and found a reputable raw dairy farm and got in good with the owners it might ease some fears.

I also won't drink raw milk from states here in the US that only allow it for animal consumption. Products for animal consumption aren't as tightly regulated as products for human consumption.

In Pennsylvania, raw milk is legal for human consumption and is heavily regulated. The only thing that is illegal regarding raw milk has to do with the transporting and selling of it. In Pennsylvania you can only sell raw milk on the farm. You cannot transport it for sale. So you won't see it in grocery or convenience stores. Even some Amish markets won't carry it for fear of being shut down.

 

[Mountain Dew]

I wouldn't drink it simply because the regulations might not be as stringent. But if I lived in Australia and found a reputable raw dairy farm and got in good with the owners it might ease some fears.

I also won't drink raw milk from states here in the US that only allow it for animal consumption. Products for animal consumption aren't as tightly regulated as products for human consumption.

In Pennsylvania, raw milk is legal for human consumption and is heavily regulated. The only thing that is illegal regarding raw milk has to do with the transporting and selling of it. In Pennsylvania you can only sell raw milk on the farm. You cannot transport it for sale. So you won't see it in grocery or convenience stores. Even some Amish markets won't carry it for fear of being shut down.

Appreciate that information superking.

 

[Seriously-Dead]

Other than the depressing fact that the entire country's agricultural system is hopelessly dependent upon corn. Were that to change, then the Europe comparisons would be valid.

The only reason corn has that status in the US is because of the subsidies in place. If consumers voted with their wallets and actually fought against these subsidies this wouldn't be an issue. But for some fucked up reason people are content subsidizing the fast food and processd food industry with billions of dollars a year worth of tax payer funded subsidies.

I'm just glad I'm not American. We have our own problems up here in Canada though, in the form of milk quotas and corrupt federal regulations.