This United Press International wire story pretty much sums up the party line when it comes to raw milk. Hey, could raw milk be why the United States has an infant mortality rate (6.5) between that of Cuba (6.45) and Croatia (6.96)? Canada, where raw milk is banned (and therefore, where nobody drinks it, right?) has a much lower infant mortality rate of 4.82.
“ITHACA, N.Y., Nov. 19 (UPI) — Unpasteurized “raw” milk provides a potential breeding ground for bacteria such as E. coli, Listeria, Campylobacter and Salmonella, U.S. researchers warn.
Ynte Schukken, professor of epidemiology and herd health at Cornell’s College of Veterinary Medicine in Ithaca, N.Y., and co-author Alejandra Latorre, a graduate student, produced a comprehensive map showing which populations were most at risk when buying from various sources.
The researchers analyzed risk across various purchasing methods including buying from a farm’s on-site store, directly from its bulk tank or from a third-party retailer. Continue reading →