Article by Yvette Seth Tokoni Kamsiyochi Angolo | Owl Staff
Goats can provide an alternative source to pasteurized milk. Despite potential health benefits, raw milk remains illegal in several states according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
As a child growing up, drinking raw milk always seemed like something you’d watch an old farmer do in a movie. Hearing from so many that it was dangerous, dirty, and outdated just made it seem that way. However, the more I learned about the ways in which modern foods are processed, sterilized, and stripped away of nutrients, the more I wanted something real.
Raw milk offers several unmatched health benefits, according to the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. The proteins and other constituents found in raw milk might help to reduce the rate of asthma and certain allergies in children. Some adults also feel similarly when comparing regular, pasteurized milk.
“When I started drinking raw milk, my digestion improved within days,” says Annette Warner, a Maryland mother of three and raw-milk advocate. “Pasteurized milk gave me bloating, but raw milk did not.”
“If it’s done right with safety in mind, raw milk could be as safe as any other minimally processed food. “
Despite the potential benefits, the FDA restricts its interstate sale and warns against consumption, and unpasteurized cows milk remains illegal in several states. In stark contrast, items like raw cheeses, juices, and eggs are widely available at many supermarkets. The issue is not in the milk, but rather the outdated regulations and widespread misinformation.
People deserve the right to choose what they consume, and informed consent should also apply to our foods. Raw milk, at a minimum, should be sold with a clear label and regulated production. If it’s done right with safety in mind, raw milk could be as safe as any other minimally processed food.
It’s time we stop treating food like a criminal. Real milk, real choice, real freedom, that’s what the raw milk debate is truly about.
Goat milk can also be used to produce hygienic products, such as soaps, deodorants, and lotions.