As a veterinarian I do not recommend drinking raw milk. Milk can transmit a number of diseases including Salmonellosis, Campylobacteriosis, Q fever (Coxiella), and E. coli O157:H7. Cows can be infected and shed these bacteria without showing any apparent signs of illness. It is possible to pasteurize raw milk prior to consumption if non-homogenized milk is desired. Federal regulations prohibit the introduction into interstate commerce of any unpasteurized milk product in final package form, intended for human consumption. In promulgating this regulation in 1987, the FDA made a number of findings relative to raw milk, including that "raw milk, no matter how carefully produced, may be unsafe." However, some states do permit the intrastate sale of raw milk intended for human consumption.
The following is taken from the FDA fact sheet at www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/rawmilk.html:
"Milk and milk products provide a wealth of nutrition benefits. But raw milk can harbor dangerous microorganisms that can pose serious health risks to you and your family. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 800 people in the United States have gotten sick from drinking raw milk or eating cheese made from raw milk since 1998.
"Raw milk is milk from cows, sheep, or goats that has not been pasteurized to kill harmful bacteria. This raw, unpasteurized milk can carry dangerous bacteria such as Salmonella, E. coli, and Listeria, which are responsible for causing numerous foodborne illnesses.
"These harmful bacteria can seriously affect the health of anyone who drinks raw milk or eats foods made from raw milk. However, the bacteria in raw milk can be especially dangerous to pregnant women, children, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems." (Dr. John Rushing, North Carolina State University)
