On February 16, 2012, the Harvard Law School Food Law Society is holding a raw milk debate. The sale of raw milk in the United States is a hotly contested topic.
The participants include:
- Fred Pritzker, PrizkerOlsen Law Firm
- Dr. Heidi Kassenborg, Director, Dairy and Food Inspection Division, Minnesota Department of Agriculture
- Sally Fallon Morell, President, Weston A. Price Foundation
- David Gumpert, Author, The Raw Milk Revolution
Before pasteurization was applied to raw milk, the product was linked to many serious diseases, including typhoid, diphtheria, scarlet fever, dysentery, tuberculosis, and infections from bacteria such as E. coli, Listeria monocytogenes, and Salmonella. Since milk is rich in nutrients, it provides an excellent environment for bacterial growth.
And in recent years, drinking raw milk has become even more risky, since “emerging pathogens”, or bacteria that develop resistance to antibiotics such as E. coli 0157:H7, have been found in raw milk and raw milk products. Consumption of contaminated raw milk can lead to complications such as paralyzation, kidney failure, and death.
According to Cornell University, food safety experts strongly recommend that all milk intended for human consumption be pasteurized, even for farm home use. A study published in the Journal of Food Production quantifies the risk of contracting Listeria monocytogenes in raw milk.
Milk that is shipped interstate and sold at retail outlets must be pasteurized according to law. Some states allow the sale of raw milk within that state. The FDA has several position papers warning of raw milk dangers and presentations on the safety of raw milk.
The event is open to the public and will be videotaped. The press is invited, but they may not do any recording.
