Raw milk is milk that has not been homogenized. In nutrition healthy food proponents have shown the importance of consuming though the medical personnel have warned people on the dangers that accrue due to taking unpasteurized milk.
History the humans have been using the raw milk before the industrial revolution happened. The machine that could have been used in the conservation of milk products had not been invented. Large populations had congregated and migrated to urban areas during the industrial revolution, agricultural lifestyle was left behind (Getoff, 2007). The pasteurization process was invented in the United States of America, this occurred due to the discovery of the germ theory that was realized to be included in milk. It was a hazardous and contagious bacterium that included brucellosis and tuberculosis though to be easily being contracted to humans through the use of milk.
Previously since the discovery of the presence of infectious germs, no device was invented that would show that milk was safe. Hence it amounted that all the milk was considered to have the germ, the health agencies recommended to the public not to consume raw milk. Animals found to be infected were removed from the production process.
The issue is controversial since information differ and people have different opinions and views about the issue of milk. Pasteurization is specifically used to prevent contaminated milk from reaching the food supply process (Getoff, 2007). The pathogens for instance the salmonella and Listeria that are present in untreated milk led to the use of the pasteurization process. Health agencies warn pregnant women, young children with weak immune system and the elderly should avoid consumption of raw milk. Scientists have been able to track down the DNA in the recent activities to find the cause of pr, the infectious disease found in cows which produced the raw milk. The debate on the raw vs. Pasteurized milk on the issue of health reasons on the consumption of raw milk against taking the pathogen free milk. Centers for disease control (CDC) is one of the agencies that depict that the raw milk can be produced hygienically which be consumed, though there have been no nutritional difference in the consumption of pasteurized milk and the unpasteurized milk. It is also important to note that the raw milk provides bacteria that are used as cheese. Regulations about the use of the milk varies all; over the worlds, since in some countries there is a partial ban or complete ban on the use of pasteurized milk and to some extent they allow the consumers to purchase directly from the farmers. Those who consume their own raw milk from their cows also have experience non problem with their health care issues. Raw milk is particularly used for other purposes, for their pets or use for making soaps in places where human consumption is illegal (Lenny Magill Productions, 2007).
Regulation on the consumption of the raw milk would not help, there is a need to inform and educate people on the use of such milk and the effect on their health. The importance of clarity of information rather than misleading the public ‘grass feed’ that the animals are free of pathogens which is not the case at all. Or the statements that stipulate that raw milks automatically kill pathogens. ‘Comparing the food safety records of pasteurized and raw milk products.’ the controversial issue is that the people opt to take pasteurized milk from the raw milk have been regarded to be harmful and contains germs that lead to contract of disease. People should also adhere to hygienic ways of dealing with milk to avoid contamination.
Raw milk stands out as the preferred type of food to nurture children. Attempt to discover milk with all the essential qualities and nutrients required to set a real and good background for the growth of the child did not succeed. The researcher argues that pasteurized milk is taking over the raw milk (The Weston, 2012). The argument is based on the facts that the pasteurized milk has undergone several chemical test hence all necessary qualities required for the health of human being are fully determine whereas raw milk does not have any solid prove that they're safe and recommendable.
Pasteurization is proven to have the element capable of destroying or eliminating disease-carrying microorganisms and helps in the prevention of the souring milk. It means that the milk would have to be maintained at a temperature of between 145 to 150 degrees F for a period of an hour then the temperature would be reduced to a minimum of 55 degrees F. Subjecting this milk to high temperatures would lower the quality of the product because some of the important nutrients get destroyed. Based on this context, raw milk can be termed as the suitability for consumption because it still contains the required and necessary qualities for human consumption (Schwartz, 2011).
There is a belief that raw milk is the factor contributing to the spread of tuberculosis in most of the children of the globe. Scientist has proven that it is a basic requirement for the children and nothing can set in as substitute. This was arrived at after a variety of tests done to different samples of milk and experiments carried out on animals that help determine the disease carrying germs found in milk (Holstead, 2009).
Raw milk is the best compared to the pasteurized milk because it contains vitamin c and have the stability and able to eradicate the bacteria. During the process of developing Pasteurized milk, vitamin c is destroyed hence the growth of harmful disease causing organism is encouraging health hazard making it not suit for human consumption. Pasteurization is responsible for turning the milk sugar that is lactose into soluble a sugar known as beta- lactose, which is not suitable compared to lactose because it is absorbed rapidly in the human digestion system leading to a person feeling hungry.
Pasteurization at certain instances is harmful and not recommendable for consumption because the calcium contained in the raw milk is made insoluble. It therefore leads to a variety of complications such as diseases like nervous troubles, bad teeth, and rickets. Calcium is very fundamental for the growth of a child. It thus implies that the lost of phosphorus lead to a setback of the brain and bones (Marler, 2009).
In conclusion, pasteurization versus raw milk debate has shed more light on the importance of considering use the best type of milk that contain required mineral for the growth and development of the human being. Though both raw and pasteurize milk has the same nutritional value they are faced with criticism from the current researches conducted that distinguishes the best of the two. Pasteurize milk is associated with disease caused by lack of necessary nutrient because of depletion during the process of manufacturing the product. Raw milk is said to have no scientific evidence as to offer safe and reliable nutrient to the growth of children. It though stands that the best and preferred milk is the raw milk since it does lead to most of the health hazards compared to the pasteurized milk
References
Getoff, D. J., McAfee, M., Lenny Magill Productions., & Time Zone Multimedia. (2007). The whole truth about milk: Raw -vs- pasteurized. San Diego, CA: Time Zone Multimedia.
Lenny Magill Productions. (2007). The whole truth about milk: Raw-vs-pasteurized. San Diego, Calif: Time Zone Multimedia.
The Weston A. 2012 Price Foundation Armchair Science. A Campaign for Real Milk is a project, London
Marler, B. (2009). Raw vs Pasteurized Milk . What I Recommend: , 15(4), 22.
Holstead, J. R., & Connecticut. (2009). Raw milk. Hartford: Connecticut General Assembly, Office of Legislative Research.
Schwartz, S., & Chao, A. (January 01, 2011). Got milk?: Raw milk, that is. Piedmont Virginian, 5, 3, 56-58.
