100% grass-fed milk?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here - thanks for the replies. my daughter has eczema, asthma and food allergies and we were told by a holistic doctor that she should either restrict dairy (which is hard bc she's 3 and loves milk and cheese and already has other food restrictions) or drink raw milk. I am not comfortable with the idea of raw milk, so I'm looking for the freshest, least processed milk out there. Figured it can't hurt to try. Not sure that it has to be 100% grass-fed but was curious since some brands (organic valley) appear to make that claim while others are open about the fact that it's mostly grass-fed.

My DD has eczema and a milk protein sensitivity too. I agree with others that you need to cut dairy, not find the "best" dairy to control the sensitivity. Mine can also tolerate yogurt and some cheese though she can't do regular milk because the process to make the yogurt/cheese breaks down some of the proteins she has problems with. They can be sensitive to different proteins in the dairy, so the yogurt making process may make it tolerable for one sensitive kid, and do nothing for a kid with a different sensitivity.

Also, a dairy can honestly say they're 100% grass fed if they're fed a combination of pasture grazing and harvested grass crops. That's what Trickling Springs and other dairies do that say they're "grass fed". They HAVE to be fed harvested crops in the winter and when there's not enough pasture grass to feed the animals, the question is whether they're fed grasses or other types of grains. Small distinction, but I think that's what the difference in labeling is getting to.

[Anonymous]

We use A2 and Snowville.

[Anonymous]

Try A2 milk and see if that makes a difference.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I doubt many/any dairies are going to be 100% grass-fed, as another PP said I think it's not really healthy for the cows.

Please don't give your kids raw milk and please don't continue to see anyone calling themselves a "doctor" who is telling you to give your kids raw milk.

I am so sick of the hysteria about milk. Milk that comes out of a cow is not dangerous. What's dangerous is the filthy conditions that 'big business' dairy farms created that started making people sick. I wouldn't touch ANY milk that came out of those places, pasteurized or not.

People have been drinking milk (now generally known by the masses as "raw milk") for thousands of years. Most people also have no idea that real ("raw") milk is loaded with good bacteria and that it's actually quite difficult for pathogens to grow in it. I have no problem drinking real milk (or feeding it to my kids, even when they were babies) after it's been left out all day. It's called buttermilk and it's very nutritious, if a bit strange tasting. The conditions really have to be FILTHY for there to be a problem with raw milk. In a typical small to mid sized dairy with even vaguely decent standards, I have no concerns whatsoever.

Of course you should visit your local farm before buying from there. They should be happy to explain their procedures to you. Personally, I meet ALL the suppliers of my family's food when I'm not thoroughly washing or cooking it. And I'm far, far more concerned with something like a prepared fruit salad than a bottle of raw milk! There are many more and worse contaminations of salad mixes and cucumbers and other produce than raw milk.

Oh, and I had raw milk (and other raw dairy products) every single day of my pregnancies and my babies had it too. Even raw milk that was several weeks old.

And to the PP above spouting nonsense about grains being more healthy for cows..... I'm speechless. Please, do the world a favor and don't comment when you have no idea what you're talking about.

Everyone should think for themselves about the sources of your information and any conflicts of interest that may affect what those sources tell you. You just have to wonder why (and even how) there are laws against raw milk sales in most states to see that there's something fishy going on. You can go into Walmart and buy a gun but you can't go into Walmart and buy milk that came out of a cow. And most people don't stop to question why that is. It's pretty sad, really.

- Science PhD whose kids don't get sick much due to being properly nourished

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I doubt many/any dairies are going to be 100% grass-fed, as another PP said I think it's not really healthy for the cows.

Please don't give your kids raw milk and please don't continue to see anyone calling themselves a "doctor" who is telling you to give your kids raw milk.

I am so sick of the hysteria about milk. Milk that comes out of a cow is not dangerous. What's dangerous is the filthy conditions that 'big business' dairy farms created that started making people sick. I wouldn't touch ANY milk that came out of those places, pasteurized or not.

People have been drinking milk (now generally known by the masses as "raw milk") for thousands of years. Most people also have no idea that real ("raw") milk is loaded with good bacteria and that it's actually quite difficult for pathogens to grow in it. I have no problem drinking real milk (or feeding it to my kids, even when they were babies) after it's been left out all day. It's called buttermilk and it's very nutritious, if a bit strange tasting. The conditions really have to be FILTHY for there to be a problem with raw milk. In a typical small to mid sized dairy with even vaguely decent standards, I have no concerns whatsoever.

Of course you should visit your local farm before buying from there. They should be happy to explain their procedures to you. Personally, I meet ALL the suppliers of my family's food when I'm not thoroughly washing or cooking it. And I'm far, far more concerned with something like a prepared fruit salad than a bottle of raw milk! There are many more and worse contaminations of salad mixes and cucumbers and other produce than raw milk.

Oh, and I had raw milk (and other raw dairy products) every single day of my pregnancies and my babies had it too. Even raw milk that was several weeks old.

And to the PP above spouting nonsense about grains being more healthy for cows..... I'm speechless. Please, do the world a favor and don't comment when you have no idea what you're talking about.

Everyone should think for themselves about the sources of your information and any conflicts of interest that may affect what those sources tell you. You just have to wonder why (and even how) there are laws against raw milk sales in most states to see that there's something fishy going on. You can go into Walmart and buy a gun but you can't go into Walmart and buy milk that came out of a cow. And most people don't stop to question why that is. It's pretty sad, really.

- Science PhD whose kids don't get sick much due to being properly nourished

You may or may not have a science PhD and it may or may not be in a relevant field. My parents grew up in the 1920s, when milk was often unpasteurized. ALL of the milk that they and their friends drank came from small local dairy farms. And guess what? They knew kids that got sick and died from bacteria in milk. Yes, it's true the raw milk has lots of bacteria, and that bacteria intake is often beneficial to health in lots of ways. That is, if it doesn't kill you. There's a reason why Louis Pasteur is super famous. And it's not because he was promoted by "big dairy." It's because he saved lots of lives. It's like people who say it's good for your immune system to get the flu or chicken pox. Yeah, it's great for your immune system, provided it doesn't kill you. If it kills you, it's not so great.

OP, I do recommend the South Mountain Creamery or other local dairy farms. I do think it is healthier than the "ultra pasteurized" and I do think that grass fed is healthier than corn fed. It may help your son to switch (particularly if it's the corn in the milk that is bothering him), or it may not (if it's just a dairy sensitivity.) My parents both have food allergies and have had reactions to animal products where the animal consumed the product they are allergic to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here - thanks for the replies. my daughter has eczema, asthma and food allergies and we were told by a holistic doctor that she should either restrict dairy (which is hard bc she's 3 and loves milk and cheese and already has other food restrictions) or drink raw milk. I am not comfortable with the idea of raw milk, so I'm looking for the freshest, least processed milk out there. Figured it can't hurt to try. Not sure that it has to be 100% grass-fed but was curious since some brands (organic valley) appear to make that claim while others are open about the fact that it's mostly grass-fed.

My son had major sensitivities but then when he was around 3 decided he didn't like milk anymore. The only milk he tolerated was Trickling Springs organic whole milk - cream line. My daughter doesn't share the same issues and does fine with Natural by Nature Organic grass-fed. Both can be found at Whole Foods. The Trickling Springs cream line (white top) runs out quickly so you have to check with them ahead of time to see when there, at least that's how it was a couple of years ago.

My son with the sensitivities now drinks almond milk and he still eats a lot of yogurt, particularly kefir which is 99% lactose free.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I doubt many/any dairies are going to be 100% grass-fed, as another PP said I think it's not really healthy for the cows.

Please don't give your kids raw milk and please don't continue to see anyone calling themselves a "doctor" who is telling you to give your kids raw milk.

I am so sick of the hysteria about milk. Milk that comes out of a cow is not dangerous. What's dangerous is the filthy conditions that 'big business' dairy farms created that started making people sick. I wouldn't touch ANY milk that came out of those places, pasteurized or not.

People have been drinking milk (now generally known by the masses as "raw milk") for thousands of years. Most people also have no idea that real ("raw") milk is loaded with good bacteria and that it's actually quite difficult for pathogens to grow in it. I have no problem drinking real milk (or feeding it to my kids, even when they were babies) after it's been left out all day. It's called buttermilk and it's very nutritious, if a bit strange tasting. The conditions really have to be FILTHY for there to be a problem with raw milk. In a typical small to mid sized dairy with even vaguely decent standards, I have no concerns whatsoever.

Of course you should visit your local farm before buying from there. They should be happy to explain their procedures to you. Personally, I meet ALL the suppliers of my family's food when I'm not thoroughly washing or cooking it. And I'm far, far more concerned with something like a prepared fruit salad than a bottle of raw milk! There are many more and worse contaminations of salad mixes and cucumbers and other produce than raw milk.

Oh, and I had raw milk (and other raw dairy products) every single day of my pregnancies and my babies had it too. Even raw milk that was several weeks old.

And to the PP above spouting nonsense about grains being more healthy for cows..... I'm speechless. Please, do the world a favor and don't comment when you have no idea what you're talking about.

Everyone should think for themselves about the sources of your information and any conflicts of interest that may affect what those sources tell you. You just have to wonder why (and even how) there are laws against raw milk sales in most states to see that there's something fishy going on. You can go into Walmart and buy a gun but you can't go into Walmart and buy milk that came out of a cow. And most people don't stop to question why that is. It's pretty sad, really.

- Science PhD whose kids don't get sick much due to being properly nourished

A baby died recently from improperly washed pump parts and breast milk. And you're telling us that raw cow milk is perfectly safe?

Drink pasteurized milk.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I doubt many/any dairies are going to be 100% grass-fed, as another PP said I think it's not really healthy for the cows.

Please don't give your kids raw milk and please don't continue to see anyone calling themselves a "doctor" who is telling you to give your kids raw milk.

I am so sick of the hysteria about milk. Milk that comes out of a cow is not dangerous. What's dangerous is the filthy conditions that 'big business' dairy farms created that started making people sick. I wouldn't touch ANY milk that came out of those places, pasteurized or not.

People have been drinking milk (now generally known by the masses as "raw milk") for thousands of years. Most people also have no idea that real ("raw") milk is loaded with good bacteria and that it's actually quite difficult for pathogens to grow in it. I have no problem drinking real milk (or feeding it to my kids, even when they were babies) after it's been left out all day. It's called buttermilk and it's very nutritious, if a bit strange tasting. The conditions really have to be FILTHY for there to be a problem with raw milk. In a typical small to mid sized dairy with even vaguely decent standards, I have no concerns whatsoever.

Of course you should visit your local farm before buying from there. They should be happy to explain their procedures to you. Personally, I meet ALL the suppliers of my family's food when I'm not thoroughly washing or cooking it. And I'm far, far more concerned with something like a prepared fruit salad than a bottle of raw milk! There are many more and worse contaminations of salad mixes and cucumbers and other produce than raw milk.

Oh, and I had raw milk (and other raw dairy products) every single day of my pregnancies and my babies had it too. Even raw milk that was several weeks old.

And to the PP above spouting nonsense about grains being more healthy for cows..... I'm speechless. Please, do the world a favor and don't comment when you have no idea what you're talking about.

Everyone should think for themselves about the sources of your information and any conflicts of interest that may affect what those sources tell you. You just have to wonder why (and even how) there are laws against raw milk sales in most states to see that there's something fishy going on. You can go into Walmart and buy a gun but you can't go into Walmart and buy milk that came out of a cow. And most people don't stop to question why that is. It's pretty sad, really.

- Science PhD whose kids don't get sick much due to being properly nourished

A baby died recently from improperly washed pump parts and breast milk. And you're telling us that raw cow milk is perfectly safe?

Drink pasteurized milk.

1. The infant was extremely premature (29 weeks) and was given caffeine citrate (which is given to treat a lack of breathing in premature infants)
2. The infant was given PASTEURIZED donor human milk mixed in with her mother's expressed milk during the first week
3. The mother didn't make any attempt to actually wash any of the pump parts, just soaked them in soapy water in a sink for up to 5 hours and then rinsed before air drying
4. The infant was given no cow's milk whatsoever
Source: https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/66/wr/mm6628a5.htm?s_cid=mm6628a5_e

So I don't think anyone could seriously hold this tragic situation up as a representative example to warn against the consumption of raw cow's milk.

And no, I didn't say that cow's milk is perfectly safe. Nothing is. But I'm still far more concerned about giving my younger children cantaloupe than raw milk from a dairy farmer I've met.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I doubt many/any dairies are going to be 100% grass-fed, as another PP said I think it's not really healthy for the cows.

Please don't give your kids raw milk and please don't continue to see anyone calling themselves a "doctor" who is telling you to give your kids raw milk.

This. Raw milk will kill you.

[Anonymous]

OP, try a farmers market. We get milk from a Coulter Farms, who go to several area farmers markets and have 100% grass fed milk.