Super Eco

Photo credit: NickPiggott, flickr

For health-conscious consumers who've discovered the satisfying taste and robust nutrition of whole foods, the attraction of switching to "real milk" often follows. Raw milk, or unpasteurized and unhomogenized milk straight from the cow, is catching on with foodies and health-conscious consumers all over the country. There's only one problem: in all but eight states (Arizona, California, Connecticut, Maine, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, New Mexico and Washington), selling it is illegal.

Most doctors consider pasteurization, the process of quickly heating and then rapidly cooling milk in order to kill bacteria, one of the greatest public health success stories of the 20th century. They claim that by killing off bacteria such as E. coli, salmonella and listeria, pasteurization is responsible for lowering infectious diseases in the United States by more than 90 percent over the past 100 years.

But fans of raw milk say that pasteurization destroys not only harmful pathogens but also beneficial bacteria, proteins and digestive enzymes. Others extol raw milk's nutritional value and immune-boosting qualities. Sufferers of digestive conditions such as Crohn's disease claim raw milk heals their sensitive systems.

Buying and drinking raw milk is legal—but of course, that doesn't make much difference if you can't get hold of any to begin with. Dairy farmers try shareholder systems, donations and other maneuvers to get their product into the hands of thirsty consumers. The Weston A. Price Foundation pushes for legalizing raw milk through its Campaign for Real Milk, while sites like Raw-Milk-Facts.com focus energetic eco-activism on the issue.

Want to add your voice toward broader milk choice? Amanda Rose, a consumer with a background in social sciences, is gathering public opinion for a paper and symposium on raw milk this fall. If you drink raw milk, fill out the survey and help researchers learn more about what the milk-drinking public really wants.