Why drink raw milk? Proposed legislation would allow on farm sales of the unpasteurized product, but a University of Wisconsin expert says the risks of drinking it outweigh the benefits. Scott Rankin, an associate professor of food science, says that while he drank raw milk as a child in California’s dairy country, he doesn’t recommend it. Just what are the supposed benefits? “It’s a raw product, and if you routinely ingest it, there is some evidence to suggest that your immune system is stronger,” Rankin says. He understands the appeal, especially at a time when raw foods are increasingly popular. “If we all ate nothing but highly processed snack food, that wouldn’t be a healthful diet. I think there’s a trend to swing way in the opposite direction and eating nothing but the freshest, most unprocessed foods available, and I think raw milk fits into that category.” [Read more...]