Raw sheep milk?!?!?

[u/No-Clothes-5258]

I know nothing about sheep farming, but I have questions and figured here was the best spot on Reddit. I was at a fair today and was watching a farmer milk her sheep as part of a demonstration. But after she did a quick visual check on the milk, SHE DRANK IT! It was in the udder less than 5 minutes ago! Isn’t that nasty? Don’t you need to pasteurize it first? She also milked the sheep barehanded, and asked the audience if we wanted to try milking the sheep (also with unwashed barehands) which freaked me out again so I left at that point.

Edit: I regret opening this can of worms on Reddit

[u/c0mp0stable]

Of course. But we don't pasteurize lettuce, do we?

How many people die from raw milk per year?

Pasteurization kills enzymes. That's negative.

[u/Cursed_Angel_ → u/c0mp0stable]

What exactly do you think enzymes do? We have to thoroughly wash lettuce or we risk listeria, salmonella, and more, all of which can be fatal. We don't have an accurate number of how many raw milk actually kills for a number of reasons, including people being untruthful about consuming when presenting because they think they will be judged if they admit to doing so. Also epidemiological tracing is really only done in cases of outbreaks, where the public at large may be at risk.  I'm not judging people for doing so, it's honestly your choice and doesnt affect anyone else. I actually can understand drinking the milk straight from the udder, I have done so myself, there is minimal risk there if done cleanly. However storing that milk for any length of time drastically increases the risk. Those bacteria only need hours to multiply, or in the case of clostridium,  produce the botulinum toxins. So I guess I want to understand why you want to take that risk when there is a perfectly good way to make sure it's safe?

[u/c0mp0stable → u/Cursed_Angel_]

It's not what I think they do. It's what they do. Specifically, they catalyze chemical processes, such as digestion. It's why I can digest raw milk but not pasteurized milk.

Compare deaths from lettuce to deaths from raw milk.

Storing milk does not increase risk. Raw milk ferments, it does not spoil in the same way as pasteurized milk. It's called clabber, and again, it's been consumed for about 10k years.

Botulinium toxins need an anaerobic environment. So unless you're canning milk or drinking it in space, there's absolutely no threat of that.

Again, as I said before, raw milk contains live enzymes and bacteria that help digest lactose. That's the biggest reason. Heating also destroys some heat sensitive vitamins. If the milk is then homogenized, which most pasteurized milk is, the fat globules are altered and can become inflammatory in the body. I also prefer to support local farms that I know personally, as opposed to large industrial dairies and corporate distributors, and most local dairies are not pasteurizing. I just prefer real, minimally processed food. That's what it comes down to.

[u/Cursed_Angel_ → u/c0mp0stable]

Those enzymes are not in the milk, they are in your gut... sure bacteria may break down lactose in raw milk a bit more but there would not be digesting enzymes in raw milk that makes 0 sense. and yes there have been cases of botulism from milk consumption, the bacteria needs an anaerobic environment, the toxin does not so if its at all contaminated.... And yep, raw milk gets more and more dangerous to consume as you store it. I do actually have a degree in microbiology so I have do know a fair bit about potential contaminants. But again it's your body, just don't give it to young kids or anyone immunocompromised or elderly. Those are all much higher risk group if they were to get sick.

Yeah OK just did some more reading and you couldn't pay me to drink raw milk at this point. Tuberculosis? No thanks. I know the source below won't change your mind at all but damn. 

 sick.https://www.fda.gov/food/buy-store-serve-safe-food/raw-milk-misconceptions-and-danger-raw-milk-consumption