2 ms·

> These are false equivalencies to the question of restricting raw milk consumption. E.g., it’s illegal to not wear a seat belt because i don’t want a stranger

> These are false equivalencies to the question of restricting raw milk consumption. E.g., it’s illegal to not wear a seat belt because i don’t want a stranger splattered on my windshield - that affects me yet i would have had no choice in the matter. Others can get contagious diseases from milk. That affects you. You didn't make the choice to drink that raw milk. > Think about the question of limiting lead content in food stuff; the equivalency would be bacterial testing requirements in raw milk, not the restriction of consumption of raw milk. You can support advances in microbiology and hygiene without legally restricting raw milk consumption. The consumption of tuna isn’t illegal yet undoubtedly if you ate tuna every day for a few months you would likely contract lead poisoning! The gigantic difference there is that it only takes one bad bottle of milk to kill you or make you seriously ill whereas eating something with slightly elevated lead content won't do much and only becomes a problem with long term exposure. I'm also pretty sure you don't check the lead content of every batch, but instead do sampling. You can't do that with milk because as noted it only takes one.

elhudy 5y ago
Embarrassingly, I was not aware that raw milk could carry pathogens such as TB which are spread beyond consumption - I assumed it carried all the localized pathogens as other foods (salmonella, listeria, etc.). I certainly understand your point now and retract that it is a false equivalency. I’m still not convinced that the answer to local farmers selling raw milk to their friends should be outright jail time - rather than enforcement of testing standards. I’m not familiar enough with the upfront costs of that to know whether it’s economical. You mention it “only takes one” but the reality is contamination in raw milk is rare enough that it is also essentially a long-term risk as well, particularly when consuming from 2-3 cattle. Again, I dont drink the stuff but i certainly sympathize with rural communities that believe it’s in their rights to do so.

elhudy 5y ago

Embarrassingly, I was not aware that raw milk could carry pathogens such as TB which are spread beyond consumption - I assumed it carried all the localized pathogens as other foods (salmonella, listeria, etc.). I certainly understand your point now and retract that it is a false equivalency. I’m still not convinced that the answer to local farmers selling raw milk to their friends should be outright jail time - rather than enforcement of testing standards. I’m not familiar enough with the upfront costs of that to know whether it’s economical. You mention it “only takes one” but the reality is contamination in raw milk is rare enough that it is also essentially a long-term risk as well, particularly when consuming from 2-3 cattle. Again, I dont drink the stuff but i certainly sympathize with rural communities that believe it’s in their rights to do so.