Finding Contentment

The federal government is always right - or not

We began our homesteading adventure in February, and since then I have seen person after person mention that they drink raw milk; either purchased or from their own homestead.

Now I have always been led to believe that raw milk - milk that has not been pastuerized, homogenized or otherwise altered - is bad, bad, bad. Drinking it could lead to illness or even death.

This was further validated when, as part of my past job, I ended up working with a family (through an interpreter) who had recently crossed the border from Mexico. Their toddler nearly died from listeriosis. The local health department had decided the boy contracted the bacteria from drinking raw milk from a cow in their Mexican village.

But yesterday, I began doing research on raw milk and found out several interesting things. First, that the bacteria that causes listeriosis can also be found in soil and water, and can therefore contaminate vegetables. It doesn't have to come from milk.

The cow in the Mexican village was not tested. The government simply decided that because the family had given their child raw milk, it must be the culprit.

According to an article on www.realmilk.com, "dairy accounts for only 1% of all food-borne illnesses. The number one source of food-borne illness, accounting for 38% of all cases according to the CDC's data, is produce."

Remember the big spinach scare?

Also according to Real Milk researchers, "The largest outbreak of food-borne illness from pasteurized milk occurred in March of 1985 when there were 19,660 confirmed cases of Salmonella typhimurium illness FROM CONSUMING PROPERLY PASTEURIZED MILK."

So obviously, pasteruization is no guarantee of safety.

At this point you may think I am now a raw milk convert - but that is not necessarily true. Nobody in my family has ever even tasted raw milk, and I have more research to do before we decide if raw milk is for us.

I don't know if my family will make an informed decision to drink raw milk or not to drink it, but imagine my surprise when I realized that our family is not allowed to make that decision! Apparently, the sale of raw milk for human consumption is illegal in 23 states - including my own state of North Carolina.

What a relief I don't have to make that decision! After all, the government is always right, isn't it? The government knows what is best for every American, and certainly should tell them what kind of milk they are allowed to drink - right? Wrong!!!!

I am overwrought that this decision has been taken out of my family's hands. I was outraged when I learned of situations where armed government officials had raided small-time farming families because they dared to produce their own milk.

Give me a break! Our tax dollars that could be used to raid crack houses are instead being used to raid families who - gasp! - drink their own cow's milk!

If you agree that the government shouldn't be able to outlaw milk, you may wish to sign this petition started by the North Carolina Natural Milk Campaign. Anyone can sign this petition, and there may be similar ones going in other states.

Untitled Comment

05:17 PM, Thursday, June 21, 2007 .. Posted by gokings13

People who are in crack houses are in perfect bondage already.
What the liberals want is to put THE REST OF US in bondage!
Why mess with those who bond themselves? The liberals want for everyone to be under their control.

Untitled Comment

11:22 PM, Thursday, June 21, 2007 .. Posted by chimicole

My family drinks raw milk. We get it from a family with a dairy farm.
The way I figure it, thousands of years have passed before pasteurization of milk, and people have lived and multiplied.
I do not like things added or taken away from the foods my children eat.
They eat as naturally as possible. Farm fresh eggs, unpasteurized milk, homemade breads....
And they are a healthy crew, I'll tell ya!

milking on your own

08:31 AM, Friday, June 22, 2007 .. Posted by JubileeFarm5

You can't buy raw milk, but if you milked goats you would have the option of raw milk. We milk 2 nubians and I struggled at first with reading all about raw milk versus pasteurized. Yes it can be healthier for Raw, but yes human error can cause bacteria to get in it. For my family since I am a huge worry wart, we go ahead and pasteurize our milk. Our goat house isn't bacteria free, the goats aren't sanitized, so for me it is just the safer bet. It doesn't taste much different than raw, but it is still healthier than buying it from the store!!
Melanie

Untitled Comment

03:41 PM, Friday, June 22, 2007 .. Posted by Anonymous

the government has no right to interfere with people's personal choices - unless those choices are SINS!

Raw milk outrage.

04:39 PM, Wednesday, June 27, 2007 .. Posted by dorninkrefuge

We drink raw milk everyday and there is no comparison to store milk. Raw milk is the best. We have learned the raw milk has beneficial enzymes that fights bad bacteria. Besides, God has promised that He has blessed our food and drink and taken sickness out of our midst. That is why we pray over our food and ask God to sanctify it. There are a lot of things that the government is not correct about. I am sure there is some risk, but I believe that a healthy individual can consume raw milk safely. Linda

Untitled Comment

03:16 PM, Sunday, September 9, 2007 .. Posted by Anonymous

We just started on raw milk this year, I think it has been since April maybe earlier, when we found a farmer down the road due to his advertising and have not gone back since.

Love the taste of it. =)