5 ms·

Why is this normal in Europe, but considered risky in the US?

cosmodisk 5y ago
In which part of Europe is this normal? The last time I tried raw milk was probably 25-30 years ago and that was minutes after it got extracted from a cow. An average European doesn't even see a single cow for months, unless they live in rural areas.
- ttoinou 5y ago
  in the countryside you can go to a farmer and buy direct raw milk
  - cosmodisk 5y ago
    Yes, that's true, but I don't think many do that nowadays.
g42gregory 5y ago
Not sure. Maybe tighter quality standards for milk production?
hkt 5y ago
Milk in Europe is pasteurised. The main difference is actually with cheese: making some types of cheese with pasteurised milk is impossible because the cultures in the milk confer flavour etc.
lp0_on_fire 5y ago
Mostly because the FDA and USDA are overly cautious. Not a bad thing in most cases, IMO.
ofrzeta 5y ago
It's not normal. In Germany you can get raw milk sometimes in organic shops under the name "Vorzugsmilch". This means the distributor or producer needs a special permit and has to observe stricter hygienic standards. This milk is specifically produced and controlled for raw consumption. You can get raw milk directly from a farmer sometimes but they are obliged to put up a note to cook the milk before consumption.
- jaclaz 5y ago
  In Italy there are now "specially licensed" farmers that can legally sell raw milk (though they are very few), it is relatively recent, till until a few years ago it was prohibited (I believe starting from the late 1980's or 1990's). On the other hand I remember as a kid how we got fresh milk daily in a country village: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=22223564 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=22223564
CryptoPunk 5y ago
- ikiris 5y ago
  The parent comment is a perfect example of the poor quality of content commonly on HN these days. Please do better.
- wbsss4412 5y ago
  Both parties have their fair share of anti personal liberty per issues these days.
  - CryptoPunk 5y ago
    Oh yes. For Republicans, it's usually national security and crime that justifies anti-personal-liberty laws. The Republicans are not the party of liberty. Among senators, only Rand Paul, and Democrat Ron Wyden, voted against FOSTA for example: https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1152/vote_115_2_00060.htm https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1... National security and suspicion of foreign nations is also why the restrictions Republicans support often relate to how people interact with non-Americans. This can be seen in Republican support for sanctions and tariffs. But I was commenting about raw milk and how the Democrats' philosophy on personal rights to consume commercial products relates to it.
microtherion 5y ago
It's getting less common in Europe as well. Some of the tastiest soft cheeses are made from raw milk, but they also kill a number of people each year. It's the French answer to Fugu, if you will.

In which part of Europe is this normal? The last time I tried raw milk was probably 25-30 years ago and that was minutes after it got extracted from a cow. An average European doesn't even see a single cow for months, unless they live in rural areas.

ttoinou 5y ago
in the countryside you can go to a farmer and buy direct raw milk
- cosmodisk 5y ago
  Yes, that's true, but I don't think many do that nowadays.

g42gregory 5y ago

Not sure. Maybe tighter quality standards for milk production?

hkt 5y ago

Milk in Europe is pasteurised. The main difference is actually with cheese: making some types of cheese with pasteurised milk is impossible because the cultures in the milk confer flavour etc.

lp0_on_fire 5y ago

Mostly because the FDA and USDA are overly cautious. Not a bad thing in most cases, IMO.

ofrzeta 5y ago

It's not normal. In Germany you can get raw milk sometimes in organic shops under the name "Vorzugsmilch". This means the distributor or producer needs a special permit and has to observe stricter hygienic standards. This milk is specifically produced and controlled for raw consumption. You can get raw milk directly from a farmer sometimes but they are obliged to put up a note to cook the milk before consumption.

jaclaz 5y ago
In Italy there are now "specially licensed" farmers that can legally sell raw milk (though they are very few), it is relatively recent, till until a few years ago it was prohibited (I believe starting from the late 1980's or 1990's). On the other hand I remember as a kid how we got fresh milk daily in a country village: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=22223564 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=22223564

CryptoPunk 5y ago

ikiris 5y ago
The parent comment is a perfect example of the poor quality of content commonly on HN these days. Please do better.
wbsss4412 5y ago
Both parties have their fair share of anti personal liberty per issues these days.
- CryptoPunk 5y ago
  Oh yes. For Republicans, it's usually national security and crime that justifies anti-personal-liberty laws. The Republicans are not the party of liberty. Among senators, only Rand Paul, and Democrat Ron Wyden, voted against FOSTA for example: https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1152/vote_115_2_00060.htm https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1... National security and suspicion of foreign nations is also why the restrictions Republicans support often relate to how people interact with non-Americans. This can be seen in Republican support for sanctions and tariffs. But I was commenting about raw milk and how the Democrats' philosophy on personal rights to consume commercial products relates to it.

microtherion 5y ago

It's getting less common in Europe as well. Some of the tastiest soft cheeses are made from raw milk, but they also kill a number of people each year. It's the French answer to Fugu, if you will.