Here’s a short story story in the Altoona Mirror wading into the raw milk debate. It leads with a lactose-intolerant man who has no problems drinking enzyme rich raw milk.
Demand for milk and cheese, unpasteurized and directly from the cow, is on the rise at Clover Creek Cheese Cellar in Williamsburg as more consumers add raw milk to their organic/buy local regimen.
But, like most stories, the Altoona piece also warns of the dangers listeria, E. coli and salmonella bacteria…all of which can contaminate raw milk.
Indeed, there was yet another raw milk “recall” this week…this time involving milk purchased from Piney Ridge Farm in New Bethlehem, Penn.
I think Thea and others I’ve heard from are right on when they talk about knowing the cow. They would argue that closer you are to the dairy operation, the more you can vouch for the safety of the milk.
Virtual Farmgirl 
I would add “TB” to the list of diseases that are transfered from the milk to the human consuming the raw cow milk. Though TB testing is very important. I am sure there are dairy laws about testing, but many home situations probably do not always test. Though a sick cow is a sick cow. Goats transfer some disease that I have never heard of but once and do not remember its name.
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Hello Virtual Farmgirl!I’m in NW Indiana as well, and I’ve been looking for local sources of milk. Any suggestions?
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I actually don’t have any suggestions. I’m with Thea on knowing the animals before you consume raw milk. So unless they are mine or belong to someone I’ve come to know well, I’m not real comfortable with raw milk distribution for my family.
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I would add “TB” to the list of diseases that are transfered from the milk to the human consuming the raw cow milk. Though TB testing is very important. I am sure there are dairy laws about testing, but many home situations probably do not always test. Though a sick cow is a sick cow. Goats transfer some disease that I have never heard of but once and do not remember its name.
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Hello Virtual Farmgirl!I’m in NW Indiana as well, and I’ve been looking for local sources of milk. Any suggestions?
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I actually don’t have any suggestions. I’m with Thea on knowing the animals before you consume raw milk. So unless they are mine or belong to someone I’ve come to know well, I’m not real comfortable with raw milk distribution for my family.
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