What is raw milk?

Raw milk is the term commonly associated with untreated or unpasteurised milk. The raw milk trend stems from the US, with trendy Californians and New Yorkers most known for their habits to drink straight from the cow.

The cows that are used to provide the milk are fed particularly well, with green grass in spring, summer and autumn and green feed, silage, hay and root vegetables in winter. Such a feed is intended to keep the cows especially healthy and produce high quality milk free from the chemicals in much shop bought milk.

The Controversy

Raw milk can now be bought in UK directly from a farmer, through a catering business like a B&B or from your local milk round.

Some claim that raw milk is great for you as it provides a wealth of vitamins and good bacteria needed for a healthy lifestyle, not found in treated milk.

On the other hand many studies disagree and suggest raw milk is extremely dangerous to drink because of the natural properties found in unpasteurised milk which can cause serious illnesses.

The Advantages

Reports and pro raw milk activists like the Campaign for Real Milk argue that raw milk promotes a healthy lifestyle.

This is because the cows that are used to produce the raw milk eat very well and this leads to an increase of vitamin A, B, D, good bacteria and digestive enzymes found in the milk. Such digestive enzymes are even supposed to aid irritable bowel syndrome.

Supporters of the trend heavily believe special qualities found in raw milk are destroyed by the common process of pasteurisation, which requires milk to be heated at a high temperature in order to kill off harmful bacteria.

Disadvantages

However, this means anyone who consumes raw milk is open to a number of negative qualities found in untreated milk, which can make you very ill.

According to The Foods Standards Agency untreated milk contains illness-causing bacteria, known as pathogens, which include E.coli and Campylobacter. Alongside Salmonella, a bacteria which attacks the stomach and intestines and causes diarrhoea or constipation, headaches, stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting and fever. Children, older people, people in poor health and pregnant women are the most susceptible to illnesses which can be caused by pathogens in raw milk.

Figures on outbreaks of food poisoning for England and Wales show that about half of all milk-related outbreaks during 1992-99 were linked to raw milk, according to The Foods Standards Agency.

Similar cases in Scotland have also occurred, however three people died as a result of illnesses caused by raw milk. In 1983 Scotland introduced compulsory pasteurisation of raw milk and cream and since then such cases have fallen dramatically. By 2000 there were only two cases and no deaths.

Case Study

In a study that combined the efforts of researchers in Europe and the US, and around 15,000 children aged between five and thirteen in Austria, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden and Switzerland, were examined in relation to the effects of raw milk consumption.

The children who took part in the study drank raw milk on a regular basis. They were then given a series of blood and allergy tests. According to the findings, children who drank raw milk were significantly less likely to suffer from hayfever and asthma.

“Our research showed that the children who enjoyed the best protection from asthma and allergies had been drinking farm milk since their first year of life,” says Dr Waser.

However Dr. Waser supports the research of The Foods Standards Agency and explains that raw milk contains dangerous pathogens. He stressed that for these reasons the consumption of raw milk has serious health risks. In addition he would not advise anyone to drink it.

"We need to develop a deeper understanding of why farm milk offers children this higher level or protection and investigate ways of making the product safer, while retaining these protective qualities,” adds Dr. Waser.

So is Raw Milk Good or Bad for You?

It would appear that amongst all the controversy surrounding raw milk, the untreated white stuff can provide an excellent source of key vitamins and good bacteria. Research suggests that those who drink untreated milk from an early age can benefit from its natural formula.

From our research drinking milk is important and provides an excellent source of calcium and vitamin D. Both of which remain in tact in pasteurised milk, which cuts the risk of contracting serious illnesses like Salmonella.

However, the risks of developing salmonella and E coli remain high. For this reason it seems that drinking large amounts of raw milk is not safe.

In our verdict we refuse to jump on the raw milk float until further research into the benefits become apparent.