California might ban raw milk
If you live in California and drink raw milk, drink up now, because you may not be drinking it for long. A new law, if passed, will require that all raw milk sold in the state be tested for coliform up to a limit of 10 per millimeter or less. Raw milk dairies and advocates argue that most coliform bacteria are safe and tests for an E. coli and Listeria, pathogenic bacteria, are already being performed. Mark McAfee, owner of Organic Pastures, a large raw milk dairy, cites a study that shows that 80 percent of raw milk will not meet this new law, leaving many Californians without a source of raw milk.According to the FDA, drinking raw milk or eating raw milk products does carry a health risk; people who are particularly at risk are the elderly, children and pregnant women. Advocates contend that raw milk is healthier because pasteurization destroys nutrients and enzymes. It is against federal law to sell raw milk across state lines although it may be sold to local stores or to consumers directly at farms.













