What Is Raw Milk? And Why Is Everyone Talking About It

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

Raw milk—or milk that isn’t pasteurized or homogenized to kill dangerous micro organisms—has been a controversial figure in the dairy scene for several years. Now, it’s about to be on the national debate stage.

That’s because Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has been nominated by president-elect Donald Trump to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, the country's top health agency, which oversees the Federal Drug Administration. Kennedy has said he wants to put a stop to the “aggressive suppression” of raw milk in the US. It’s all part of his larger campaign to end what he says is “the FDA’s war on public health.”

Link to tweet

Kennedy’s position on raw milk comes at a time when interest in and consumption of raw milk is higher than ever—despite scientists’ warnings about the very real dangers of consuming it. Data released earlier this year by the market research firm NielsonIQ found that weekly sales of raw cow’s milk have increased between 21% to 65% as compared with the same periods last year. Google Trends data shows that search interest for “raw milk” on the platform is higher than it's ever been.

-snip-

What are the risks of consuming it?

The Centers for Disease Control says that unpasteurized milk can carry bacteria, parasites, and viruses. The milk can come out contaminated (say, the cow has bovine tuberculosis or an udder infection), or it can become contaminated from contact with dirty equipment. “There are no demonstrated benefits to consuming raw milk compared to pasteurized milk,” a representative from the National Dairy Council told Bon Appétit. “Some people have a strong emotional investment in believing so, but scientific research does not validate this.”

https://www.bonappetit.com/story/raw-milk-obsession

[sakabatou]

1. "Cowpox! Cowpox for everyone" RFK Jr., probably

[iscooterliberally]

3. My mom told me I came down with cowpox when I was a toddler.

This might be an over simplification on my part, but my understanding is that the smallpox vaccine was actually a mild form of cowpox. The pediatrician said that only 1 in a million or two million kids would come down with cowpox so I won the lottery. At least I have that going for me!

[sakabatou]

6. Yep, the smallpox vaccine was derived from cowpox

[rubbersole]

31. Very moooving...

Sorry. That was udderly unnecessary. 🐄

[iscooterliberally]

38. You milked that post for all it was worth!

[petronius]

9. I'm thinking of an SNL sequel...

[Blue_Roses]

14. I had hyperbaric therapy

for an infection in my leg and I wouldn't have my leg today if not for it! It's amazing how it works!

[Crunchy Frog]

23. That's pretty innocuous. It was the original smallpox vaccine.

There's much worse stuff in there than that.

[sakabatou]

25. Yes, I know

[LearnedHand]

2. Great. A HerbaLife pusher will be running our PUBLIC HEALTH institution

We're freaking doomed.

[Dr. Shepper]

4. I don't give a f*ck anymore

I just don’t want them to kill their kids. Kill themselves sure, but don’t give it to the kids.

[RedWhiteBlueIsRacist]

5. Shaking my head at the fools who voted for this fool.

Fuck 'em all.

[chowder66]

7. He forgot the Musk brain implants (and worms).

[Aristus]

8. The latest bullshit, and potentially harmful, food fad.

Every nutritionally illiterate chuzzlewit out there wants to believe that he has found the key to health and longevity that doesn’t involve vegetables and exercise.

[Amanita Pantherina]

10. Welp, At least I will be incredibly high and my skin will look amazing

Until the pox epidemic.

Then, not so much.

[thebigidea]

11. as if Republicans are going to loosen regulations against psychedelics

Jr is high on his own supply again

[roamer65]

12. Consuming raw milk is beyond stupid.

Ask the dairy farmers who were dipping from their own milk tanks during the PBB crisis in Michigan in 1973.

Those farmers got an extra helping of the fire retardant.

[Blue_Roses]

13. Omg...this guy is effing NUTS!!!

So many of those things he mentions are necessary and beneficial. What happened to him? His dad would be so disappointed in him.

[Dorian Gray]

15. I might consider

raw milk or raw milk cheese if I knew the producer, that the conditions were pristine, and that I was ingesting it within a certain timeframe of it being produced. I have more optimism that proper protocols are managed in some European dairies than many here. But if I went to a farm, and they were drinking the milk with me... I'd consider it.

But the way we produce milk here in the USA? No way. Sick cows wading in their own excrement. Give them antibiotics and pasteurize that shit.

[Jack Valentino]

16. Would you get your milk by sucking directly on a cow's tit ??

If not, you probably shouldn't drink 'raw milk' !

[Jack Valentino]

17. I don't take health advice from a guy who cut off a dead whale's head

with a chainsaw, and tied it to the roof of his van
while the decomposing 'whale juices' covered the outside
and some of the inside of the vehicle...

[Cartoonist]

18. My understanding is that it tastes good.

I read something by Ron Paul to that effect. No mention of any health benefits, just that citizens should be able to make their own choice.

[Cirsium]

28. People can make their own choice

Drink all the raw milk you like. But when you sell it to the public, then public health over-rides your personal freedom.

Ron Paul and other quacks are such brazen liars. They want to make this an issue of personal freedom for the consumer. It is not. It is a matter of freedom from regulations for the seller, and consumers be damned.

[The Wandering Harper]

29. it does taste better in my experience

Massachusetts seems to have good regulations on it. Never got sick from it

[AZSkiffyGeek]

35. I tried it once

It was incredibly rich. Too rich for my tastes, and I love whole milk. But it was tasty.
I've had raw milk cheeses as well, they also had a stronger richer flavor.

All these unpasteurized dairy products did wreck havok on my digestive system though.

[Talitha]

19. Something else I've wondered about is 'uncured' meat.

Next time you're at WalMart, look at the ready-made sub sandwiches. Read the ingredients... that's where I've been seeing 'uncured' meats listed. Personally I wouldn't touch 'em - a fresh banana is more to my liking.

[usonian]

21. I think it means no nitrites.

Could be wrong. Nitrites seem to be ok when naturally occuring in foods but can be carcinogenic in processed foods. I refer you to the Cleveland Clinic. et. al.

https://theconversation.com/why-nitrates-and-nitrites-in-processed-meats-are-harmful-but-those-in-vegetables-arent-170974
Why nitrates and nitrites in processed meats are harmful – but those in vegetables aren’t



https://health.clevelandclinic.org/what-are-nitrates

[Talitha]

22. Thanks so much for this, usonian!

The Cleveland Clinic is a source I can trust - I've bookmarked the links and will delve into them in the morning.
Thanks again!

[usonian]

20. You got an objection to replacing fluorine in water with psychedelics?

Next President. Timothy Leary. From the other side!

[Meowmee]

24. 😹

[Sneederbunk]

26. That's the brain worm talking.

Salmonella and ecoli for everybody

[MOJohn]

27. Drink whatever milk you want

I couldn't care less. I'm not rushing out to the Amish store for raw milk, but I don't care if someone else does.

[LisaM]

30. Back in the 1880s or so babies in our family died

from tubercular cow's milk. My great great grandmother couldn't nurse because she was sick and she ended up losing four young children, including two babies. RFK, Jr. can eff off.

[duncang]

32. Taking it to the next level maybe?

What about cooking meat or for that matter anything. Part of the reasoning is it kills off beneficial bacteria. Couldn’t that be said about anything you cook. It’s likely that rfk jr got his brain worm from undercooked or raw food. Might be meat or raw vegetables that haven’t been properly washed or inspected. I could see him trying to allow raw milk in schools. Which could be a disaster.

[Paladin]

33. Don't be stupid. Avoid raw milk, and get vaccinated.

And pray that rfk jr. doesn't gain any more influence and power.

[Walleye]

34. Fuck it, die then. Got no patience with people who get sick from any disease that has been preventable for decades

Our health system has been so muddled up with advertising and PR talk, people don’t realize that there’s a difference between communicable diseases and chronic health conditions

[Emile]

36. Raw milk can contain bacteria like Salmonella, E. coli, and Listeria. Plus it has a shorter refrigerator shelf life.

What's not to like?

[Bookreadingliberal53]

37. Also H5N1 has been found in raw milk nt