Milk, what is better Raw or Pasteurized ?
In 1864 Pasteur discovered that heating beer and wine just enough to kill most of the bacteria that caused spoilage prevented these beverages from turning sour. This was achieved by eliminating pathogenic microbes and lowering microbial numbers to prolong the quality of the beverage. Today the process of pasteurization is used widely in the dairy and food industries for microbial control and preservation of the food.
Pasteurization aims to reduce the number of viable pathogens
Unlike sterilization, pasteurization is not intended to kill all micro-organisms in the food. Instead, it aims to reduce the number of viable pathogens so they are unlikely to cause disease.
People who consume raw milk have supported their choice for reasons such as it tastes better, cures acidity, has more natural antibodies, reduces lactose intolerance, etc.
A growing consensus is favouring pasteurized milk over the raw milk. They have good reason to support this change too. Raw milk can cause serious infections. Raw milk and raw milk products (such as cheeses and yogurts made with raw milk) can be contaminated with bacteria that can cause serious illness, hospitalization, or death. These harmful bacteria include Brucella, Campylobacter, Listeria, Mycobacterium bovis, Salmonella, Shiga toxin-producing E. coli, Shigella, Streptococcus pyogenes, and Yersinia enterocolitica. From 1998 through 2011, 148 outbreaks due to consumption of raw milk or raw milk products were reported to CDC [1]. One has to see benefits and side-effects, and then decide what is best.
CDC says "Raw milk can cause serious infections"
An analysis conducted by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future (CLF) found that raw milk was associated with over half of all milk-related foodborne illness. The CLF analysis was prepared at the request of the Maryland House of Delegates’ Health and Operations Committee as lawmakers considered relaxing regulations that currently prohibit the sale of unpasteurized milk in Maryland.
References:
1. Raw Milk Questions and Answers. CDC site (retrieved on 27-03-2015)
Wife says "told ya"
