3 ms·

It seems a weird sort of naturalism fallacy to assume that mixing milk by hand is optimal. I'd be very skeptical about health benefits, but I'm open to the noti

It seems a weird sort of naturalism fallacy to assume that mixing milk by hand is optimal. I'd be very skeptical about health benefits, but I'm open to the notion that it tastes different. Have you done a side by side comparison (do some brands offer both?)

maxxxxx 11y ago
this is only anecdotal but in Europe I never had trouble digesting milk. The milk they sell in the US makes me feel bloated. It also tastes differently. Obviously that's not a scientific study but for me it's good enough to conclude that something is different.
- dragonwriter 11y ago
  Sure, but why conclude that the relevant "something" that is different is homogenization?
  - maxxxxx 11y ago
    I didn't conclude that. It seems the major difference is pasteurization and homogenization so I guess it's one of them or both. I should add that my observations are mainly about fresh milk from a farm. But even the ultrapasteurized milk they sell in tetra paks is better digestible for me.
- m-i-l 11y ago
  Not the first time I have heard of differences between US and European milk on HN: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=9323380 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=9323380
- Kristine1975 11y ago
  FWIW milk in Germany is also often (most of the time?) homogenized. And it tastes differently depending on the "manufacturer" (the company, not the cows). *Also PSA: Europe is many different countries, not a single one like the US. So it doesn't make much sense to say "in Europe", because there are huge differences between countries ;-)
  - maxxxxx 11y ago
    To me the main difference is that in Europe it's possible to get unpasteurized milk whereas in the US it's hard to do so. I am not talking about "H-Milch" in tetra paks :-)
    - bradleyjg 11y ago
      Both Europe and the US are big places with lots of different rules. In the US roughly half the states ban raw milk sales, another 1/4 allow it to be sold on farms, and the final quarter let it be sold either in farmers markets, stores or both. California is on the less restrictive end -- there's a testing requirement and a warning display requirement but it can be sold anywhere.

maxxxxx 11y ago

this is only anecdotal but in Europe I never had trouble digesting milk. The milk they sell in the US makes me feel bloated. It also tastes differently. Obviously that's not a scientific study but for me it's good enough to conclude that something is different.

dragonwriter 11y ago
Sure, but why conclude that the relevant "something" that is different is homogenization?
- maxxxxx 11y ago
  I didn't conclude that. It seems the major difference is pasteurization and homogenization so I guess it's one of them or both. I should add that my observations are mainly about fresh milk from a farm. But even the ultrapasteurized milk they sell in tetra paks is better digestible for me.
m-i-l 11y ago
Not the first time I have heard of differences between US and European milk on HN: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=9323380 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=9323380
Kristine1975 11y ago
FWIW milk in Germany is also often (most of the time?) homogenized. And it tastes differently depending on the "manufacturer" (the company, not the cows). *Also PSA: Europe is many different countries, not a single one like the US. So it doesn't make much sense to say "in Europe", because there are huge differences between countries ;-)
- maxxxxx 11y ago
  To me the main difference is that in Europe it's possible to get unpasteurized milk whereas in the US it's hard to do so. I am not talking about "H-Milch" in tetra paks :-)
  - bradleyjg 11y ago
    Both Europe and the US are big places with lots of different rules. In the US roughly half the states ban raw milk sales, another 1/4 allow it to be sold on farms, and the final quarter let it be sold either in farmers markets, stores or both. California is on the less restrictive end -- there's a testing requirement and a warning display requirement but it can be sold anywhere.