20100331 Raw Milk opinion

Your article on raw milk demonstrates two important trends: how people are balancing risks and benefits in the pursuit of possible health benefits; and a distrust of government regulation. One aspect that was not mentioned in the article is that while environmental cleanliness is crucial to protecting milk from contamination and the diseases that are linked to it, a major factor historically in the passage of laws to regulate milk purity was the desire to prevent the spread of tuberculosis.

Your article on raw milk demonstrates two important trends: how people are balancing risks and benefits in the pursuit of possible health benefits; and a distrust of government regulation. One aspect that was not mentioned in the article is that while environmental cleanliness is crucial to protecting milk from contamination and the diseases that are linked to it, a major factor historically in the passage of laws to regulate milk purity was the desire to prevent the spread of tuberculosis.

For as long as I can remember, milk has been advertised as a product that "does a body good". Perhaps the time has come to question the validity of this statement. A couple months ago, I wrote a blog about the continued debate over whether or not individuals should have the right to access, buy, and consume raw milk. There are growing numbers of people who believe raw milk can not only help maintain health but can also cure a huge range of illnesses.

For as long as I can remember, milk has been advertised as a product that "does a body good". Perhaps the time has come to question the validity of this statement. A couple months ago, I wrote a blog about the continued debate over whether or not individuals should have the right to access, buy, and consume raw milk. There are growing numbers of people who believe raw milk can not only help maintain health but can also cure a huge range of illnesses.

“They came in the dark, shining bright flashlights while my family was asleep, keeping me from milking my cows, from my family, from breakfast with my family and from our morning devotions, and alarming my children enough so that the first question they asked my wife was, ‘Is Daddy going to jail?’” That’s how Amish farmer Dan Allgyer described an early morning visit last week from two FDA agents, two U.S. Marshals, and a Pennsylvania state trooper. Apparently, investigating a single farmer for possibly trafficking raw milk across state lines requires a show of force.

“They came in the dark, shining bright flashlights while my family was asleep, keeping me from milking my cows, from my family, from breakfast with my family and from our morning devotions, and alarming my children enough so that the first question they asked my wife was, ‘Is Daddy going to jail?’” That’s how Amish farmer Dan Allgyer described an early morning visit last week from two FDA agents, two U.S. Marshals, and a Pennsylvania state trooper. Apparently, investigating a single farmer for possibly trafficking raw milk across state lines requires a show of force.

For the record, by law, all milk sold or distributed in B.C. must be pasteurized -- a process that raises milk to temperatures high enough to kill harmful bacteria (such as E. coli, salmonella and campylobacter), while not significantly compromising milk's nutritional qualities. Read more: http://www.timescolonist.com/health/milk+poses+serious+risks+health/2919535/story.html#ixzz0lfBkOCCS

For the record, by law, all milk sold or distributed in B.C. must be pasteurized -- a process that raises milk to temperatures high enough to kill harmful bacteria (such as E. coli, salmonella and campylobacter), while not significantly compromising milk's nutritional qualities. Read more: http://www.timescolonist.com/health/milk+poses+serious+risks+health/2919535/story.html#ixzz0lfBkOCCS

Max Kane won in court today. This young father has found himself up to his eyeballs in legal wrangling with his state over his defense of the rights of citizens to agistments (cow boarding, herdshares) and private, unregulated trade.

Max Kane won in court today. This young father has found himself up to his eyeballs in legal wrangling with his state over his defense of the rights of citizens to agistments (cow boarding, herdshares) and private, unregulated trade.

I drink fresh, raw milk. Really fresh, really raw and always in season. In essence, I drink real milk. I’ve waxed poetic about my love of fresh cream before, but now it’s milk’s turn.

I drink fresh, raw milk. Really fresh, really raw and always in season. In essence, I drink real milk. I’ve waxed poetic about my love of fresh cream before, but now it’s milk’s turn.

One need not look far to grasp the scope of this country's food safety problems, and the personal devastation that can happen when somebody is infected by E. coli, Salmonella, Campylobacter, or any other foodborne pathogen.

One need not look far to grasp the scope of this country's food safety problems, and the personal devastation that can happen when somebody is infected by E. coli, Salmonella, Campylobacter, or any other foodborne pathogen.