Today I am starting a series of posts called, "What's the Big Deal?" Because lately it seems that people have been getting ants in their pants over trivial things.
For example, I recently read an article in The Denver Post. Apparently, in Colorado you are allowed to sell shares in your dairy farm whereby you can then distribute fresh raw cow milk to the shareholders.
But there are some people who want to shut down these farms. People might get sick. We're so worried that someone will be harmed by this non-pasteurized milk. So we better shut these farms down. Right now.
I'm sure that anyone who has laid down money to buy shares in one of these farms has taken the the time to properly weigh the risks of drinking raw milk with whatever they perceive to be the nutritional benefits. I'll acknowledge that most people probably should not drink raw milk. But do they really think there is going to be some sort of RAW MILK REVOLUTION? I kind of doubt it. Most people are worried about cost and convenience when trying to fulfill their dairy needs, neither of which is really offered by raw milk.
I'd be willing to bet that what the commercial dairy industry is mostly worried about is how it could potentially affect their bank account.
So I say let them drink and drink and drink until they are sick - not from bacteria, but because they are so full of its rich, fatty goodness.
It's kind of like with cigarettes. It's not like any smoker in our day and age suddenly realizes, "Hey, I had no idea that there are potential health consequences of sucking down this burning tobacco!" (I realize some may say they didn't know, but come on. You're really pinning your lung cancer on a cartoon camel?)
As for me, I don't really have a dog (cow?) in the fight. I drank raw milk once. I didn't get sick. But I'm happy with my milk from the grocery.
Should raw milk be sold at the Safeways? Nope. Should raw milk be served at the school cafeteria? Absolutely not. But if people want to drink non-pasteurized milk in the privacy of their own homes, I think that is perfectly okay.
