Has Anyone Ever Tried "Raw" Milk?

I adopted my son and couldn't breastfeed so I used raw milk and the homemade milk formula found right on their website and made my own formula. My son had this raw milk formula from age 2mo-1year... after that, we switched to almond milk simply because it got too expensive and we definitely didn't want him to drink "regular" milk. I am now supplementing the raw milk into his diet because he's just a skinny kid, but totally healthy!! I order from them directly because it's cheaper than finding it at the store. You can actually find thier raw milk at I believe it's Sprouts. It's a bit more expensive, but if you just wanna try it before you commit to buying a whole 1/2 gallon of it online. Good luck!

I've tried it and it taste delicious and no one in my family had any effects from it whatsoever. As far as my household is concerned, it's just milk.
And I think its better for you in the long run.
Good luck!

I had non-pasteurized milk (and raw eggs) in Japan for years. I won't have EITHER here in the states UNLESS
- It's from backyard chickens
- Milk that's still warm from the cow (okay, okay...I prefer cold milk...but you get my drift...if it wasn't milked that day I don't touch it, too many microbiology classes)

In Japan -where I lived- eggs and milk are produced on SMALL farms, and are sold to the markets daily. The chance of cross contamination is essentially nill (neither are mass produced, we're talking maybe a hundred chickens and 2 or 3 cows per farmer...and neither are stored in ginormous warehouses for weeks at a time with thousands to hundreds of thousands of other cartons...transported by truck/plane/truck & stored in a back room at a giant chain grocery store..and then eventually gotten out onto the shelves). Even with the chance for cross contamination being essentially nill, we'd still get sick from them a few times a year. Nothing major...diarrhea rarely kills in first world countries...where clean water & salts are readily available. You feel lousy, but it rarely kills.

While Whole Foods is one of my favorite stores, they're still a chain...with the requisite need for large & consistent orders, warehouses, shipping, storage. I personally wouldn't do it for MYSELF...much less a small child. If you're on the (non mass producing) farm, fine, if not...why choose to put yourself or your little one in the way of some fairly nasty microbes?

The other problem I run into with "organic" animal products is the potential lack of immunizations & worming. I do NOT want all the growth hormones...but I ALSO do NOT want parasites or zoonotic illness. Sick meats and milks...not high on my list of things to eat. It can be harder to find those products that aren't on the extreme edge of pumped with chemicals or exposed to umpteen diseases...but they're out there. <Laughing> Ironically...they're also usually cheaper. Just as an example; WholeFoods 365 (storebrand) milk -not 365organic- has none of the hormones, and is fed pesticide free vegetarian diet...but they immunize & worm the cattle (yay!). Cost: 1.79 per half gallon...vs 2.79 for their 365organic...or 3-5 dollars for organic milks elsewhere.

Anyhow, my experience and opinions.

Sorry, warning in advance, this is from one of my favorite reads, Dr. Russell Blaylock. He is a neurologist that actually continues to study and find what works or doesn't work for the body and here is what he has to say about raw milk. I've taken two parts from his newsletter of November, 2005.

"Cows naturally have one of the highest cancer rates in the animal kingdom and in most instances, these cancers are caused by viruses (oncogenic viruses). The most common cancers among cattel includeleukemias and lymphomas."

"Drinking raw milk can be very hazardous, since all milk contains a significant number of pus cells (leukocytes) that carry the viruses. I would discourage drinking any form of raw milk."

Personally, we use Rice, Almond, Hemp milks in our house. Hemp is the most nutritious.

yes, i grew up on raw milk from our jersey cow....however, i have bought the organic pastures raw milk in the last year and was not pleased with their product. i bought it a couple of times and both times it was already sour tasting the day it was purchased. i know from past use that raw milk has a distinctly different flavor and taste then pasturized milk, but it shouldn't taste sour right off the bat....i would not recommend this product for its quality and expense. if you're interested in using raw milk, i would suggest finding someone local/close to your area to purchase milk from - support local!

Hi D.,
You've gotten some of the same responses that I'm about to make, but having just come from a trip to Hungary and consuming raw milk for 2 weeks (both me and my 21 month old), our systems aren't used to and we both ended up with diarrhea in the last couple of days. The problem with US-based mass-produced milk is that no matter how "raw", it's not fresh. Also, these cattle may be free-roaming, but the milk came from them days if not weeks before, so it's had a chance to culture and create who-knows-how-many organisms that could sicken our systems. My family in Hungary drink only this fresh milk, but not often! Here in the US, we drink milk like water, but in Hungary, it's mostly used as a cooking agent and to get cream for coffee and drunk only rarely. So, I would have to say pass on the raw milk unless you're able to get it fresh from a neighbor who has a cow. Actually, I know of a small farm up in La Habra Heights that has cows, maybe you can ask them about raw milk... They can't sell the milk for human consumption (because that would require oodles of inspections and testing from the FDA or USDA), but it's still the freshest locally I can imagine. Let me know if you're interested and I'll get you their contact info.

There was a recall awhile ago and several children got very ill. PLEASE do not give your child anything that is not pasteurized. I also shop at Whole Foods and stay away from that stuff.

Hi!

I have a friend who drinks raw milk and uses it for her toddler, and my mother thinks that it is absolutely the BEST way to drink milk (although she lives in a more rural area where it isn't readily available). Keep in mind that raw milk sold in stores is kept very clean, with the intent of being consumed un-pasteurized, so it should be safe. Your MD will probably not recommend it, but natural doc's might.

Sorry, I know that's not the most helpful as I don't have a lot of first hand experience. I think I drank it as a child...and I turned out fine! :)

Hey D.,
My husband and I do not consume dairy products on a consistent basis, but when we do we buy raw and we purchase Organic Pastures and sometimes Organic Valley cheese. It will not taste different, maybe slightly richer, and if you have lactose intolerance issues you will notice an improvement. It does not seem to bring about the same reaction as pasteurized milk (excessive phlegm) most likely because it still has the enzymes that are originally occurring in it that allow a body to digest it.
We have several friends who have been drinking it for years, throughout pregnancy, and all their little ones drank it. They all are very healthy and have not once had a negative reaction.
Additionally, are you aware that the calcium that is in pasteurized milk is not naturally occurring? It needs to be readded back into the milk because the pasteurization process kills off much of the beneficial nutritional elements. Raw milk has all the calcium and other nutritional benefits it came with. Also, you can be assured that there is no growth hormones, antibiotics, RBst, etc. It's just plain grass fed milk.
The one concern that some have is the danger of listeria which an organism that can be found it raw dairy products, unpasteurized juice and deli meats. However, Organic Pastures tests every batch of milk that they sell before it is passed onto the stores, so I would not be worried about that.
The only other element that could be a nuisance is the fact that milk will go bad faster if you purchase it from the stores. If you drink a lot of milk in your home that shouldn't be an issue. However, my husband and I could not drink it fast enough to keep that from happening. Our suggestion is to buy directly from the company, instead of the store, and have them freeze it and ship it. When you defrost the milk, it still tastes the same, but will last longer.

In Europe they use raw milk. Not so much in the USA, because we pasteurize everything... and they say is 'kills' all beneficial things & vitamins in the milk. That is why, milk has to be "fortified."

Try asking your Doctor.
I don't know how "clean" non-pasteurized milk would be.

I know that there are many opinions on it.

Good luck,
Susan

LOVE IT!! Expensive but worth it. Read the book Real Food.

C., mother of 3, sleep consultant, sleep blog writer

I and 4 of my siblings were raised on raw milk. Our ages range from 42 to 32 and we are all exceptionally healthy. I have a friend who has had to give her son raw milk because of allergies. He is 4-1/2 and is very healthy and has done very well on the raw milk. Hope this helps!

As long as it is pasteurized, any milk is okay. Raw milk straight from a cow is not safe for children as you do not know what bacteria, fungi, or viruses might be in the milk. Never ever give truly raw unpasteurized milk to children. If you want to play Russian roulette with your body as adult, I have no problem, but never ever with children.
see the following websites for additional info:
http://www.microbiologyprocedure.com/microbiology-in-dair...

http://infectiousdiseases.about.com/od/g/a/milkborne.htm

http://www.scribd.com/doc/15947179/Disease-Transmitted-Th...
this will will scare the pants off of you

Good question. I grew up on Alta Dena Certified Raw Milk. I think I turned out okay. :) Not sure what I will do when my LO turns one, probably organic milk. I just found one that has DHA in it from Henry's so I will probably buy that.

I grew up on raw milk and never had any problems with it. I love it. Raw milk actually has a particular enzyme in it that is helpful to the digestive tract, but is killed with pasteurization. This enzyme helps to digest milk, and actually prevents lactose intolerance.
Most unhealthy bacteria doesn't come from the milk itself, but the handling of the cow or the milk after it was expelled, or with the diet of the cow.
If you have more questions, I would visit(if possible) the farm where the cows are, and note the cleanliness of the facilities... do the cows have space to walk around, or do they stay in their own maneur? Are the cows washed regularly? Do the handlers wash their hands before and after handling? Are all instruments and machines cleaned regularly? Are sick cows seperated from the herd? What do they do with a sick cows milk? These types of questions will help you know whether the milk can be trusted.

Considering we aren't even supposed to eat unpasteurized cheeses when we're pregnant, I'm guessing it's not a great idea. But...on these things I always defer to the pediatrician...have you thought of asking her/him?

Good luck!
-M

I had raw milk(straight from the cow)when I was younger. It was very creamy and very good. I never got sick or anything from it. I've never had any problems from drinking it.

I havent tried raw milk, but I am also concerned about cows milk for my little guy. When he was about that age I would buy Straus Organic Whole Milk ogurt. it has absolutely nothing extra in it, no thickeners, pectin, starches, sugar or flavors or preservatives. I would water it down and put it in his sippy cups. He loved it. (sometimes i would add a drip or a drop of honey ;))
Good Luck!

http://www.foodsafetynews.com/2010/04/raw-milk-website-la...
http://www.realrawmilkfacts.com/

I'm a veterinarian and I've been on more dairy farms than the average consumer, and I can tell you that there are MANY opportunities for bacteria to contaminate a milk product on a dairy farm. I'm also a microbiologist, and I can tell you that milk is a perfect multiplying medium for bacteria. I am on a food safety mailing list and I get email newsletters all the time regarding outbreaks of food-borne disease all over the country associated with raw milk and raw milk products. I'd be happy to share if you're interested. I can see NO good enough reason to drink raw milk to outweigh the risks- it's like playing russian roulette with your children's health.

People who grew up on dairy farms may have "self-vaccinated" over the years and are thus more resistant to the bacteria commonly in raw milk. That is not the case for you or your children. Please reconsider exposing them to this risky product.

My husband has been bragging about how awesome it tastes for years. He says you won't want to go back to the pasteurized. I should have bought some for his birthday : )