| We're taught as early as elementary school about | | | | results in losses of anywhere from zero to 10 |
| the French chemist Louis Pasteur and his famous | | | | percent for each of these, which most would |
| invention: pasteurization. This is the process of | | | | consider only a marginal reduction," says Sheehan. |
| heating food to kill bacteria, viruses, mold, yeasts | | | | Further, "Pasteurization will destroy some |
| and other potentially harmful organisms. The first | | | | enzymes," says Barbara Ingham, Ph.D., associate |
| pasteurization test was performed back in 1862, | | | | professor and extension food scientist at the |
| after Pasteur noticed that microorganisms could | | | | University of Wisconsin-Madison. "But the |
| contaminate beverages (he later extended this to | | | | enzymes that are naturally present in milk are |
| the theory that microorganisms could contaminate | | | | bovine enzymes. Our bodies don't use animal |
| humans and animals as well.). But pasteurization did | | | | enzymes to help metabolize calcium and other |
| not immediately become the gold standard for | | | | nutrients." The Case for Raw Milk On the other |
| milk production in the United States. In fact, at | | | | side of the fence are those who say |
| the end of the 19th century "swill dairies," in which | | | | pasteurization is unnecessary if cows are raised in |
| cows were raised in horrible conditions and | | | | clean environments, and radically changes the |
| reportedly fed swill from liquor distilleries, were a | | | | structure of the milk, resulting in an entirely |
| major problem. The milk from these dairies was | | | | different, and potentially harmful, food. According |
| of such poor quality that it was thought to be | | | | to the Weston A. Price Foundation: "Pasteurization |
| contributing to the high death rate of urban | | | | destroys enzymes, diminishes vitamin content, |
| infants at the time (the yearly death rate of U.S. | | | | denatures fragile milk proteins, destroys vitamins |
| infants in cities was about half of the yearly birth | | | | C, B12 and B6, kills beneficial bacteria, promotes |
| rate). Thus, a crusade began for certified raw | | | | pathogens and is associated with allergies, |
| (unpasteurized) milk, which would ensure certain | | | | increased tooth decay, colic in infants, growth |
| purity levels of milk and regular inspections of | | | | problems in children, osteoporosis, arthritis, heart |
| dairies. "Though more and more milk was being | | | | disease and cancer. Calves fed pasteurized milk |
| pasteurized, pasteurization was seen by many as | | | | do poorly and many die before maturity. Raw |
| a stopgap measure that would no longer be | | | | milk sours naturally but pasteurized milk turns |
| needed once the production and distribution of | | | | putrid; processors must remove slime and pus |
| milk was more carefully regulated. Certified milk | | | | from pasteurized milk by a process of centrifugal |
| was the model for the production of better milk | | | | clarification." Raw milk, proponents say, is an |
| everywhere," said Ron Schmid, ND, author of The | | | | outstanding source of beneficial bacteria such as |
| Untold Story of Milk. Yet by the early 20th | | | | lactobacillus acidolphilus, vitamins, enzmes and |
| century, milk supplies were still of poor quality, | | | | calcium. Further, they say that sickness resulting |
| and thought to be involved in many disease | | | | from raw milk is rare--instead, it is pasteurized |
| outbreaks, leading authorities to push for | | | | milk that is often implicated in outbreaks of |
| mandatory pasteurization of all milk except | | | | food-borne illness. According to Mark McAfee, |
| certified raw milk. "Not until the 1930s did | | | | founder of Organic Pastures Dairy, which |
| commercial dairy interests, segments of the | | | | produces a full line of raw organic dairy products |
| medical community, politicians and public health | | | | for retail sale, "During the period 2000 through |
| agency officials and their allies in the media begin a | | | | 2004 there were several listeria-related food |
| campaign first to smear all raw milk and then to | | | | recalls in California associated with pasteurized milk |
| eliminate its availability and sale," Schmid said. Thus | | | | products and ice cream. During this same period |
| began the compulsory pasteurization of milk and | | | | more than 12 million servings of Organic Pastures |
| the great debate that has spanned centuries: Is | | | | products were consumed and not one person |
| pasteurization one of the greatest discoveries, or | | | | complained of illness and not one pathogen was |
| greatest setbacks, of our time? The Case for | | | | ever found either by the state, FDA or Organic |
| Pasteurization "[Drinking raw milk is] like playing | | | | Pastures." Organic Pastures then hired a |
| Russian roulette with your health," says John | | | | laboratory to perform an experiment. The lab |
| Sheehan, director of the Food and Drug | | | | added 10 million counts of pathogens to |
| Administration's (FDA) Division of Dairy and Egg | | | | one-milliliter samples of organic raw milk and found |
| Safety. "We see a number of cases of | | | | that the pathogens not only would not grow but |
| food-borne illness every year related to the | | | | they also died off. The lab concluded: " ... Organic |
| consumption of raw milk." According to the FDA, | | | | raw milk and colostrum do not appear to support |
| raw milk may contain any number of | | | | the growth of pathogens ..." As it stands, the sale |
| disease-causing organisms, including | | | | of raw milk across state lines is illegal. However, |
| campylobacter, escherichia, listeria, salmonella, | | | | sales of raw milk, either in retail stores or directly |
| yersinia and brucella. Aside from causing acute | | | | from the farm, are legal within 28 U.S. states. In |
| diarrhea, stomach cramps, vomiting and fever, | | | | other states, raw milk may be available through |
| these organisms may also cause more serious | | | | cow "leasing" programs in which members |
| conditions, particularly among the elderly, pregnant | | | | purchase shares of a cow and can then use the |
| women, children or those with weakened immune | | | | milk how they choose. l"> Please Let Us Know |
| systems. The FDA says pasteurization helps | | | | What YOU Think! Select answers will be published |
| prevent: Tuberculosis Diphtheria Polio Salmonellosis | | | | in the forthcoming issue of the e-newsletter!* |
| Strep throat Scarlet fever Typhoid fever Milk can | | | | *NOTE: Your answer, or an excerpt thereof, may |
| be contaminated from a sick or dirty animal, as | | | | be published in a forthcoming issue of the |
| well as by dirty living environments. "Think about | | | | e-newsletter and on the website. By submitting |
| how many times a cow lays down in a field or | | | | your answer you authorize this. Please include |
| the barn," says Tom Szalkucki, assistant director | | | | your name and your city state (or country) |
| of the Wisconsin Center for Dairy Research at | | | | location to be included in the publication of select |
| the University of Wisconsin-Madison. "Even if the | | | | answers!This article was provided by the world's |
| barn is cleaned thoroughly and regularly, it's not | | | | #1 most popular and trusted holistic living |
| steamed. Contamination can take place because | | | | e-newsletter -- FREE to you right now at The old |
| it's not a sterile environment." Pasteurization, says | | | | way of thinking: "holistic living" pertains only to |
| the FDA, kills any dangerous bacteria while also | | | | personal health. The new way of thinking: "holistic |
| destroying bacteria that can cause milk to spoil, | | | | living" means prevention of the negative and |
| thereby extending shelf life. One of the biggest | | | | adherence to the positive in all SIX practical areas |
| controversies over pasteurized milk is whether or | | | | of life: relationships, finances, career, home |
| not the milk is able to retain its nutritional value | | | | environment, safety and health. With the |
| after the high temperatures it is exposed to. | | | | e-newsletter, you will get holistic wisdom from the |
| Proponents of pasteurization say the process has | | | | world's top experts in all six of these areas -- |
| little effect on the milk's nutritional value or flavor. | | | | completely FREE with a simple sign-up (and a |
| "Milk is a good source of the vitamins thiamine, | | | | guaranteed no-spam policy! |
| folate, B-12, and riboflavin, and pasteurization | | | | |