[TeeMassive]

I never understood the fear of raw milk. The best cheese are made with raw milk. I don't understand how it can't be safe when both the cow and the milk are tested for disease and bad germs.

[nerdjon]

By that logic I don't understand why you don't just drink raw sewage instead of waiting for it to be processed and made safe.

The act of making cheese is processing the raw milk. Fun fact Pasteurized milk was also once raw.

Same with meat but basically no one advocates eating raw chicken.

Why am I explaining that things change from a raw to a processed state and becomes safe to consume...

[TeeMassive]

This is a false equivalence. And if the milk and the cow is tested for pathogens, what is the problem?

[hydrogen7800]

Isn't cheese making just an old process of preserving milk for later consumption, which removes moisture and thus the environment for harmful bacteria?

[WorldMaker]

And also encouraging controlled, beneficial bacteria that out-compete harmful bacteria.

[TeeMassive]

Then why is it illegal to make raw milk cheese?

[hydrogen7800]

I have no idea what the rules are, but I'm sure you can make whatever you want. If something is illegal, it's is probably illegal to _sell_ it, which i think is reasonable. I wouldn't trust just anyone to sell me raw milk cheese, and would want them to follow food safely regulations when doing so, which maybe are not compatible with the process of making raw milk cheese.

[rkomorn]

Aren't cheeses made from raw milk cultured, and usually cure for a long enough time that bacteria does not survive?

[lukeinator42]

I really wish I could buy raw milk for hobby cheesemaking. I'm in Canada where the laws are really restrictive.