Love for Life

Frequently Asked Questions
Mother Natures Archives of RAW MILK FAQ
Below are the questions we receive most often. If you have other questions, feel free to contact us.

1. Does freezing damage raw dairy products?
Freezing puts raw milk products to sleep and has little effect on the important health benefits that raw dairy products provide. Enzymes and bacteria are fully active when they awake after thawing. Some vitamins are reduced by trace amounts after being frozen. The flavor is sometimes slightly affected by this and is not always apparent. All OPDC products may be frozen. Thawing should be done by placing the frozen product in a regular refrigerator for a day. Milk should be shaken to mix up the butterfat after thawing. Warming the product to room temperature just prior to drinking will also make the fat blend in better with the milk (if it has clumped or separated during freezing).

2. Can I get OPDC products fresh and not frozen?
OPDC will ship fresh and unfrozen raw dairy products to anyone upon request. Remember that if the delivery is delayed and the product is left un-refrigerated, it will be protected for an extended period of perhaps an additional 24 hours if it is frozen. If fresh, the product may become warm if refrigeration is delayed upon delivery. Warm raw dairy products lose none of their nutritional value, but they begin the process of natural souring, which starts to change flavors (rapid increase beneficial bacteria). This is not a concern for food safety, but it does make the product into a naturally cultured dairy product much like Kefir. OPDC recommends that warmed raw milk be cultured and stored at 90 degrees for 24 hours. The resulting product is a delicious Clabbered Raw Milk. 90 percent of the people on planet earth drink their milk as a clabbered milk, not fresh. Cultures can be purchased at the health food store.

3. Why do you say that "Raw Milk is Alive"?
Natural organic raw milk has in it vitally important living things. These include the following: beneficial bacteria, enzymes (including lipase, protease. and other), lactase forming bacteria, and many enzyme based pathogen killing systems. The common practice of pasteurization inactivates or dramatically reduces the effects of these important active (living) elements. As a result, you may be lactose intolerant when drinking pasteurized milk, but not lactose intolerant when you drink raw milk. This is because lactase enzymes are being formed when you digest raw milk. That is why we say, "only living milk brings life."

4. How much colostrum should I drink each day?
Remember that colostrum is a health food and not a drug. You can not overdose on fresh colostrum! Drink several pints per week to initially build up your immune system, then just maintain consumption of a pint or two per week and drink plenty of raw milk. Raw milk has many (not all) of the same elements contained in Colostrum, just at much lower concentrations. You can not (chemically) overdose on any OPDC products; they are food.

5. Are organic and raw the same thing?
No. "Organic" is a set of environmentally sustainable growing and production practices that are now certified and regulated by the USDA. Raw is the naturally occurring, unprocessed and uncooked state of any food. All organic milk starts out with the organic cow and all organic cows make raw milk. Nearly all dairies take their milk to a creamery that processes that milk using pasteurization methods. The resulting organic products are not raw and living, but rather they are "killed and dead." In addition, not all organic dairies follow the USDA organic requirements, which requires access to pasture for their cows. OPDC provides pasture 100% of the time. OPDC is the only organic pasture land farm in North America that does not pasteurize (heat treat to extend shelf life and kill bacteria) its products. Organic means diversity of life and soil. What a shame it is that "living, life-bringing raw milk" from all over the country ends up being processed into very dead Ultra High Temperature (UHT is 282 degrees - not the common HTST 161 degree common pasteurization: for extra long shelf life); so-called organic milk products. It truly exploits the word organic. Again, and it really must be restated for emphasis, organic means soil and the diversity of living life. How can something so dead be considered natural or organic? Only living milk brings life.

6. What happens to bacteria in pasteurized milk after pasteurization?
After pasteurization, bacteria found naturally in milk are killed. During the high temperature heating process, cell bodies of these bacteria are ruptured and their contents are spilled, releasing histamines. This causes many milk drinkers to suffer allergic reactions. Almost all of these same consumers can drink raw milk and not have allergies. The high levels of bacteria permitted in milk intended for pasteurization are still found in pasteurized milk; they are just dead and not removed by the process.

7. What is homogenization?
Homogenization is the process of destroying the natural butter fat cells found in raw natural milk. This process uses extreme pressure to break apart the soft buoyant fat cells, which cause the remaining small fat pieces to blend into milk and no longer float to the top making the cream line. Some European countries have studies that show that this process is dangerous and may strongly contribute to heart disease and arterial plaguing. Our FDA disputes these findings under pressure from the strong dairy lobby. Homogenization is not a required step, but rather a step of convenience to deny the consumer the ability to see how much cream is actually in the milk they buy.

8. Why is milk pasteurized?
In the 1800s, many US dairies began commercially producing low quality raw milk in the inner cities of Boston and New York and others. These Brewery dairies would feed their cows very poor quality "brewer's mash." The resulting milk was very weak and nearly blue from lack of protein, mineral, and fat content. This occurred during the Jamaican rum embargo. During this same time period, the dairy industry did not use or have access to refrigeration, stainless steel, milking machines, rubber hoses, hot water, or chlorine as a sanitizer. TB and Brucellosis were rampant (not to mention horse manure on the streets, flies, and lack of public sanitation and sewage) and the cows were milked by hand without mechanical machines. The cows stood in manure and there was no access to pasture (sounds like some factory dairy farms of 2005). The resulting unhealthy milk from these sources literally killed millions. The heating of milk to high temperatures reduced this horrible blight. During this same time period, milk from the countryside taken from pasture grazed healthy and clean cows was the best medicine of the day. In fact, the Mayo Clinic used this high quality country raw milk as a basis for many disease curing therapies. This was the untold story of raw milk. Because of pasteurization successes, commercial interests prevailed and all dairies (the good, bad, and the ugly) then began to pool their milk so that "nobody would die," even if milk quality was very poor. This was great news for milk mass marketing, and creameries created high profits. These pasteurization practices continue today with the chief benefit being extended shelf life. These modern dead milk products now cause allergies and lactose intolerance to huge sectors of the population. Current (PMO) Federal standards for pasteurized milk permit 100,000 bacteria per ml for milk going to be pasteurized with as many as 20,000 injured or living bacteria to be alive after pasteurization, and this may include pathogens (this is arguably the reason why milk is pasteurized). California standards for raw milk require that milk sold for raw consumption have fewer than 15,000 live bacteria per ml and no pathogens. OPDC averages about 1500 beneficial living bacteria per ml (and never a human pathogen). For a great book on the subject of milk history, please order "The Untold Story of Milk" by Dr. Ron Schmid ND. It is available from OPDC. You get the whole story: starting 12,000 years ago, right up to and including OPDC in 2003.

9. What are pathogens?
Pathogens are disease causing bacteria and organisms. The three human pathogens that are tested (state mandated) at OPDC include Listeria Monocytogenes, Salmonella, and Ecoli 0157. To date, not one of these pathogens have ever been detected by any test at OPDC or conducted by any state or federal agency. Tests privately performed at OPDC (BSK labs) showed that even when these pathogens were added to OPDC raw milk at extremely high levels (7 logs) they would not grow and die off (test results available upon request).

OPDC milk products are highly pathogen resistant. In more than 32 million servings, and more than five years of intensive testing, not one single pathogen has been found or detected. Not one person has complained to the state of CA that they have become sickened by an OPDC product. Tests performed by UC Davis, Dr. C. Berge DVM revealed something quite startling: Fresh manure from OPDC cows did not contain Salmonella. At other dairies tested, many of the findings were positive (31% of conventional milk tanks tested showed a human pathogen present).

In summary, it has been theorized that the combination of grass feeding, no antibiotics used, no hormones, and low levels of grain used in diet cause a change in the cows immune system and rumen. This change in physiology directly inhibits pathogen development in the milk (actually a transfer from environmental contamination that does not seem to occur; there are no bad bugs in the manure that transfer into the milk and the clean raw milk is highly pathogen resistant).

10. What are enzymes?
Enzymes are specialized proteins that assist in the breaking down (hydrolyzing) and digestion of foods into useful elements that can be utilized, absorbed, or stored by the body. Enzymes are identified by the use of the ending "ase" associated with their name. For instance Lipase helps digest lipids (fats). Lactase helps digest lactose sugar (milk sugar). If your body does not produce and have available specific enzymes, then you may not be able to utilize certain food sources, or absorb certain minerals, etc. Phosphatase, which is key to the absorption of calcium, is inactivated by pasteurization. In fact, the test for effective pasteurization is called the "negative phosphatase test." Is it no wonder that Americans are suffering from osteoporosis at a rate higher than ever. It is now considered a US health crisis. A little trick that is not commonly known is that if you drink plenty of raw milk, lactose intolerant people can then tolerate limited amounts of pasteurized milk products, including ice cream. There is a sharing of required missing enzymes (lactase) and bacteria that are required in the gut, making a person not intolerant of lactose containing products.

11. Can I cook with OPDC products and will the heat affect the raw nature of the products?
Yes, you can cook with OPDC products, but any heat over about 120 degrees starts to denature enzymes and kill bacteria. This is okay, but just remember the benefits of raw and make sure you eat plenty of raw (not heated above 110 degrees) in your diet for a strong immune system, good digestion, and absorption of minerals.

12. What are Immunoglobulins?
Immunoglobulins (antibodies) are immune system boosting elements found in the blood stream. They include IgA, IgD, IgE, IgG, and IgM, which among other things neutralize toxins and counter microbial attack. They are collected during pregnancy (in the breasts and udders of mammals) and are transferred to the newborn via colostrum (first milk) after being born. These essential protective proteins form a big part of the immune system and respond to disease and infection. Bovine colostrum contains high levels of these antibodies.

13. Why does colostrum appear pink or yellow sometimes?
All bovine colostrum contains some blood cells (RBC and WBC). Sometimes this is visible and sometimes it is not depending upon the cow and whether she had some red blood in her first milk. This is normal. OPDC attempts to limit the amount of visible blood that is in colostrum, but on occasion the colostrum may appear slightly pink. The yellow color in the colostrum is caused by Lactoferrin: Rich vitamin levels and the natural fat color of milk fat. All of this colostrum is "Nectar of the gods," is normal, and completely safe.

14. Why is there a "pet food" sticker on some OPDC products sold at retail stores outside of the State of California?
FDA law CFR 1240.61 states that it is illegal for anyone to transport raw dairy products across state lines "in final package form for direct human consumption unless that product has been pasteurized."

In compliance with CFR 1240.61, OPDC labels and ships its products outside of California for "pet consumption only."

15. What can I do with warm or soured raw milk?
Soured raw milk is still a vitally nutritious product and should be cultured for optimal flavor and taste. If you find yourself with a container of souring milk, just put in some live culture (some yogurt or store bought kefir starter available through www.bodyecologydiet.com), then set the product out for 24 hours at 90 degrees. The resulting food is wonderful, delicious, digestible, and highly nutritious. In most countries this is how people drink their milk. Our great grandparents called it Clabbered milk. Other raw milk and raw dairy recipes are available by calling OPDC at 1-877-RAW MILK.

16. Why do OPDC products carry a "government warning" that states that the consumer may be sickened by this raw dairy product?
Government regulations now require many living foods to carry a warning label, including meat, poultry, fish, and fresh juices. This came about because of the ever weakening immune system of the average American citizen. More and more US consumers have severely weakened immune systems and can become ill by eating small amounts of foreign bacteria that their bodies are not familiar with. It has been estimated that about 70% of the strength of a healthy immune system is made up of the diversity of living bacteria found in the intestines. Raw milk provides a perfect source for the "seeding and feeding" of these diverse populations of living bacteria. The average American diet is practically devoid of living bacteria (all killed foods and few bacterial sources). Our immune systems have suffered as a direct result. Consuming raw milk and dairy products is an important step towards regaining immune strength and overall health. On occasion a new raw milk consumer may have some diarrhea from over drinking raw milk for the first time. This is rare and should be considered very normal. After all, the intestine has never seen such an incredible introduction of new and diverse beneficial bacteria and does not have any idea what to do. It is possible, but highly unlikely, that pathogens may be transmitted in raw milk just as they may be transmitted in all other foods. OPDC has demonstrated that even when high levels of pathogens were introduced into raw milk, they die off and do not grow (BSK tests). In fact, pathogen killing safety systems are hard at work, keeping raw milk safe even if it has been contaminated. To date, there has never been a human pathogen ever detected in any OPDC product, in the plant, or from any test. OPDC products are highly pathogen resistant. Because OPDC can not predict the future and know what is yet to come, it is possible that someday a pathogen may be detected in an OPDC product. If you are a healthy OPDC consumer this should have no noticeable effect. Your immune system will deal with it and you will probably not even know that a pathogen was in your raw dairy product. This is evident when reading CDC reports of raw milk illness. The farm and dairy consumers never get ill; it is the first time raw consumers (with weak immune systems) that become ill. This is exactly why all people should drink lots of raw milk. A strong immune system is a gift of freedom and of health. It is your choice, and with raw milk (exercise, good hydration, a whole-food diet, and plenty of love) you need not become ill, ever. Choose life!

17. What diseases are aided by consuming raw milk and raw dairy products?
OPDC may not make a medical claim or post cures for any disease process relative to any OPDC product. That is a crime under current FDA law. We can recommend that you visit www.realmilk.com, www.westonaprice.org, or www.mercola.com, and other websites that will list literally 50 different illnesses that are directly, naturally, and positively affected by consuming raw milk. Please see the testimonial part of this website for a list of links, testimonial stories of healing and recovery. They are dramatic and compelling.

FDA regulations make it difficult for us to share specifics. Please see web links, or read Dr. Porter's book Milk Diet as a Remedy for Chronic Disease.

Link to this webpage for links to other documents: http://www.organicpastures.com/faq.html
Link to their slideshows: http://www.organicpastures.com/op_slideshow/

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Customer Testimonials
Below is a sample of the many comments we receive daily about the benefits people experience by drinking our raw milk products.

No More Lactose Intolerance – October 2007
I buy your stuff constantly. We feed my son a homemade, organic formula that includes raw cream and raw milk. He has never been sick; he is now 18 months old, he is solid, he is healthy. We got this formula from Sandy Fallon's Nourishing Traditions. Our son's doctors have approved this. Also, I turned lactose intolerant when I hit 30 years old. Ice cream and cereal became disturbing to my stomach. I can drink raw milk without any problems; in fact, I can drink it by the glass!! Keep up the good work.

Matt Segawa

Eye Surgery Avoided, Vision Improving – September 2007
Around Feb. of 2005 I had blurred vision in my right eye that had progressively gotten worse over the previous 6 months. It was time to get an eye exam. I was told by the optometrist that, yes, I had a cataract. She said that it will get worse and the left eye will probably be affected too, and eventually I would need surgery to insert man-made lenses. I had been reading about raw milk and how nutritious it was for the last few years. I could buy raw milk in California (it is legal to sell in a market). I drank about 3 glasses a day. After 6 weeks, my right eye completely cleared up. I could see as clear as one year earlier. It is almost 3 years after that now and my vision is better than it has been since I was about 30 (I’m 64). I recently had another eye exam in July, 2007 and the ophthalmologist said that I had no signs of any cataracts. I don’t even need glasses to use the computer anymore. I’m very angry that the original eye Dr. didn’t know about this way of healing the eyes and said I had no choice but surgery. To me, we have no choice but to search out info about nutrition and implement our own eating lifestyle to be disease-free today. We won’t get any help from the doctors and the drug companies.

Bing Gibbs Alton, IL

No more ear infections and wheezing – September 2007
I first heard of raw milk from a friend after mentioning my son's problems with ear infections. He had reached what they termed "the limit" — so many ear infections within a certain time period that, once reached, they start
considering putting tubes in and conducting extensive hearing tests. Diagnosed as a borderline asthmatic, he was also on Albuterol periodically for wheezing.

Having read all the information my friend sent, it seemed raw milk could only help. And indeed it has.

Within two weeks of cutting out all pasteurized dairy products and only using raw milk, the ear infections and the wheezing have cleared up and never returned. I can only wonder why so few people seem to know about the power of raw dairy products, and just how often unnecessary medication is prescribed. I only know from my own experience how much medication we went through in a few short
years. We really appreciate your dedication to producing such wonderful dairy.

Tamsin Carlson

Raw Milk Fan, June 2007
For years I couldn't drink milk because it caused a lot of problems in my system... [watch this enlightening video testimonial]

Henry Rodriguez , March 2007
I'm a diabetic. Several months ago I developed gangrene in my foot... [watch Henry's remarkable video testimonial]

Missy, October 2006
Before we started drinking OPD raw milk, every time my kids would get a cold,
they would develop a nasty barking cough. One of my sons and I would get
sinus infections and would have to go on one or two courses of antibiotics to get
over it. I suffered with heartburn after my evening glass of milk and my
husband would get sick after eating fatty foods. We've been drinking the raw
milk for over a year now, and no more barking cough, no more sinus
infections, no more heartburn, and no more upset stomach for my hubby! This
is the most delicious milk we have ever tasted. We will never go back to the
stuff we used to buy.

Thanks OPD!
Missy Herguth, Raw Milk Fanatic

Ronette, July 2006
"Just a testimony of raw milk's healthy advantage: My pastor's mom was taking Motrin every night for arthritis. She has been drinking raw milk every day for several weeks, and now she sleeps Motrin-free! Isn't that fantastic? Also her left knee had bothered her for years, and now the pain is practically nonexistent. Just thought you would like this good news."
P.S. Thanks, Ronette

Jennifer Cameron, May 2006
I have severe established (two breaks in the back) osteoporosis and I have great news that I thought you could use: AFter a few months of drinking your I got my bone density test results back last week and my endocrinologist was very surprised. He said that I have had a SIGNIFICANT increase in bone mass! Here's the real kicker, I haven't even been taking calcium supplements.

Allison LeBaron, April 2006
Dear Organic Pastures,
Well, where do I start? Last fall I had to find a formula for my daughter because I wasn't making enough breastmilk and she wasn't thriving. After visiting Mercola.com and learning about the raw milk formula from the Westen A Price Foundation - I was excited but a little nervous to try "raw milk" for my infant daughter. I purchased your raw milk and cream and the rest of the ingredients and made the formula. Within 4 days my daughter was happier, sleeping better and the biggest part was I KNEW she was getting what she needed. She proceeded to fill out quite nicely and get those nice baby rolls. :) My pediatrician was very happy to see this and is also a big believer in raw milk. I am now a milk-0-holic and stop everyone I meet to tell them about Organic Pastures Milk products.

Thank you so very, very much for doing what you do. Our family is much healthier and happier for it.

Sincerely,
Allison of Sunland California

Dr. Ron Schmid, February 2006
Dear Organic Pastures,
I strongly recommend and encourage the use of OPDC products.

Ron Schmid, ND
Alternative Medicine Center of Connecticut
www.DrRons.com

Cristi, December 2005
Dear Organic Pastures,
As a fitness and nutrition professional, I understand the importance of living foods in the creation and maintenance of good health. Organic raw milk is one such living food I recommend to clients, and consume myself every day. I drink it to help me stay healthy, fit, and full of energy. It is rich in vitamins (including B-12), and contains fatty acids, enzymes, and all 22 essential amino acids. Organic raw milk is clearly one of Nature's "Super Foods".

Cristi Doll age 42
Doctorate Clinical Nutrition
Wife, mother, athlete, fitness and nutrition expert

For more information about health and nutrition check out Dr. Doll's new book 10 Foods That Should Never Touch A Woman's Lips.

Nancy, August 2005
Dear Organic Pastures,
A few months ago I began eating a raw natural diet. The only part of this diet that took me the longest to "switch over" was the milk. My kids drink tons of milk and always have some sort of cough or cold. The first day I brought this milk home for my family to try I did not mention that it was different than what I had bought before. My little Emily goes "Mommy, this milk is soooooo yummy", I was so happy. Then of course I tried it and I agree, this is the best milk I have ever had in my life. We drink it all of the time and feel so much better than before. I love the butter too. I was unaware that you have cheese also, I will have to try it. If you have any additional information on healthy eating I would love to read it. I would appreciate any info. you might share. You guys are wonderful.

Thank you,
Nancy

Mari Stoffer, August 2005

Dear Mark and Kaleigh,
I've switched over to organic foods and raw dairy products for about the last 2 months and have had no reoccurrence of weakness. I'm following the Maker's Diet and using the clenzology cleansing products. So far, the results have been nothing short of extraordinary.

I so appreciate the ability to purchase the quality raw milk products from you. Thanks so much for what you're doing. It means a great deal to me in so many ways.

Sincerely,
Mari Stoffer

Maria, July 2002
I think God created raw milk just the way Mother Nature wanted, we should stop messing with milk and let it be just natural -- straight from the cow --just like in Mexico when I was a kid. We never got sick.

NOTE:
Organic Pastures Dairy does not diagnose or make any claim regarding the cure of any specific disease process as per FDA regulations. The dairy does believe, however, that changes in nutrition can have fundamental and important impacts on health.

All OPDC products are fresh natural dairy products, and have natural effects on the body that are much different than processed and pasteurized dairy products

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Link to many other Raw Milk Websites: http://www.organicpastures.com/links.html

Link To Many Other Raw Milk Articles From Around The Globe: http://www.organicpastures.com/goodnews.html

About Organic Pastures Dairy Company

Family Owned, Operated, and Inspired
OPDC is rooted in the innovative farming and dairy endeavors of the McAfee grandparents. Since the 1950s, McAfee Farms have been leading advocates of nature-friendly farm practices. In 1988, the family established an organic farm and by 2000, Organic Pastures Dairy Company became California's first raw milk dairy with certified organic pasture land. The dairy is located near Fresno, California, in the heart of the fertile San Joaquin Valley, and is one of the few remaining family-owned and operated dairies in California.

The Best Milk You Can Buy
Organic Pastures produces Grade A, 100% pasture grazed raw milk of super premium quality. The Company has been recognized repeatedly in independent NFO (National Farmers Organization) tests as having the best milk taste of the dairies surveyed.

Nature's Health is Your Health
At OPDC the vigor of each cow is a high priority. Our individually named cows are never given antibiotics, hormones, or GMOs (Genetically Modified Organisms). Only organic green pasture and approved naturopathic methods are used to feed and care for the cows. Preventative, nature-based healthcare keeps the herd healthy all year.

Website: http://www.organicpastures.com