Raw milk: Whether it actually hits your lips or not, you’ve probably heard of it before in terms of polarization. Some people advertise them as magical, nutritious elixirs that can promote vitality and subdue a variety of health issues, while others say these claims are exaggerated or false. So, what is the real deal?
Is raw milk actually one of the natural superfoods or is it a dangerous business? These questions and other questions were answered below by experts specializing in dairy products, nutritionists and food safety.
What is raw milk?
Raw milk is different from regular milk. This is the type that most people buy in supermarkets. “When it comes to dairy products on the market, it’s processed to the minimum you can find,” says Brooklyn-based nutritionist Maddie Pascalillo, MS, RDN. However, she warns that minimally processed terms are not a synonym for you, better, safer or more natural.
And what is raw milk like? “It may seem more flavorful to some people,” she continues. “It’s often reported to be sweeter, grassy and creamier.”
He claimed the health benefits of raw milk
Fans of raw milk believe that drinking it has many benefits, including it’s easy to digest and helps reduce a variety of inflammatory health issues.
According to Pasquariello, advocates of raw milk are also promoting the following claim:
It supports the gut microbiota and immune support, so it is safer and better for you, and its advantage outweighs the risks
Some people argue that pasteurization kills important nutrients. “The nutrients in milk are not significantly reduced by pasteurization,” clarifies Dr Christine M. Bruhn, a food safety specialist and retired director at UC Davis’s Consumer Research Center. “There is a slight reduction in vitamin C during pasteurization, but milk is not an important source of this nutrient, as it comes from fruits and vegetables.”
David A. Mills, PhD, Professor Distinguished of Dairy Food Science at UC Davis and Peter J. Shields’ chairs, although the process can destroy several digestive enzymes and intentionally kill microorganisms in milk. “There has been a dramatic increase in the chance that milk will have pathogenic bacteria, viruses, or parasites that can harm pathogenic bacteria, viruses, or parasites.” claims that raw milk contains probiotics. This also “is defined by the misconception of the term probiotics and the clinical trials associated with it.”
Additionally, Mills argues that advocates of raw milk often use Gabriella’s research published in 2011 to insist that it is inversely linked to asthma and allergies in farm children who consume it. However, he explains that later studies suggest that microorganisms associated with farm life may be the driving factors here. “The problem with epidemiological research (of these types) is that there is no mechanism. They just create hypotheses to test,” he shares. “Almost every raw milk influencer I know cites Gabriella’s research, but they don’t understand that the mechanisms associated with raw milk have never been proven since then.”
Risk of consuming raw milk
“You’re much more likely to get sick by consuming raw dairy products and pasteurized dairy products,” Pasquariello says. There are many opportunities for pathogens to contaminate dairy products during production. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), raw milk consumption risks exposure to bacteria such as Campylobacter, Cryptosporidium, E. coli, Listeria, Brucella and Salmonella.
“For those who consume raw dairy products, these pathogens can pass through and cause the flu,” she warns. (Avian flu is harmful to humans and has become more prevalent in recent years given the increased consumption of raw dairy products. She says there is another possibility.)
Whether insidious or misinformed, some defenders of raw milk try to make their claim by citing the number of pasteurized raw milk and diseases from raw milk. “They tend to see the total number of people who have become sick from pasteurized dairy products, which can appear higher than the number of people who have become sick from raw dairy products,” Pasquariello said. says he. This logic is flawed as it requires consideration of rates and percentages (not total numbers) to analyze disease risk. “A small percentage of the population (about 3%) consumes raw dairy products, so the total number of major incidents could result in fewer cases, but the relative risk is much higher. Extreme disease rates A rise is inevitable,” she explains.
In fact, according to a 2017 article in the Journal of Emerging Infectious Diseases, raw dairy products caused 96% of diseases caused by contaminated dairy products from 2009 to 2014. The authors said these proportions will increase with increased consumption of unpasteurized dairy products, but the latter could take off, particularly in the past few years, and continue to have a stable momentum in the movement of raw milk. He said there was.
Is raw milk safe or healthy?
Simply put, drinking raw milk has more risks than reward.
“Despite the best efforts of farmers, there is clear documentation that raw milk may contain dangerous bacteria, and consumption of raw milk is dangerous,” says Brune. According to Pasqaruiello, the potential presence of pathogens within them is significant in particular for children, elderly people, pregnant or people with weakened immune systems, especially children, elderly people, or weakened immune systems. It can cause harm.
Nevertheless, Brune warns that anyone, regardless of age or health, can get sick by trying this alternative dietary trend.
Take home
Some wellness and dietary trends are more innocent than others, but according to a corps of public health agencies and qualified experts, raw milk is not in it. Thus, relying on this trend and avoiding silence of the noise around it as much as possible is your biggest concern… especially if you are ready to try it.
Pasquariello, Bruhn, and Mills all strongly advise against raw milk consumption. “RD, scientists, or evidence-based nutrition practitioners should not ethically recommend raw milk consumption or promote raw milk with health benefits that outweigh the risk,” Pasquariello said. Masu. “There’s no reason to consume raw dairy products with a safer, pasteurized counterpart.”
“Drinking raw milk is like playing Russian roulette in your health, and your gun has multiple bullets,” concludes Brune. Why gamble with your most important assets (your health and happiness) when the odds aren’t your favorite?
FAQ
Is raw milk better than pasteurized milk?
“No. If it’s balanced with the risks of raw milk, the (the alleged) benefits are not legal,” says Mills. Bruhn adds that pasteurization is one of the most important steps to protect human health, so continuing to choose standard dairy products (or plant-based milk) is of paramount concern is.
Can raw milk cause food poisoning?
Yes, raw milk can cause foodborne illnesses. Symptoms may include diarrhea, vomiting, and stomach cramps, but more serious cases can lead to paralysis, kidney failure, stroke, or death.
Why is raw milk a trend?
There are many reasons why raw milk seems to be stronger than ever.
According to Pasquariello, these include, but are not limited:
Quick Fix Health Hack’s desire for trade-health trends and the “return to nature” marketing gimmicks (which are popular, followers, selling their own programs, or selling products) rely on anecdotes False mistrust of public health institutions (not scientific) to do (to go back to nature) is primarily based on misinformation and the increasing politicization of food systems.
Where do I buy raw milk?
In the United States, regulations and legality regarding the sale of raw milk vary from state to state. “In many parts of the country, it is not legal to sell or buy raw milk. In other areas, you must decide to buy it, release the vendor’s liability and sign the exemption for contact tracking purposes. There is,” explains Pasquariello. Some states may implement other degrees of regulatory compliance (such as delegating warning labels), while others have banned sales entirely.
How should raw milk be stored if consumed?
If you choose to buy and consume raw milk – this is not wise depending on the vast majority of public health, food and nutrition experts.
