Double Standard? Queen Drinks Banned Raw Milk

Though raw milk is highly-regulated or even banned in much of the western world, members of the British royal family consume the purportedly unsafe dairy product. If raw milk is safe enough for Queen Elizabeth II, then why is it inaccessible for so many of her constituents?

Raw milk was the only form of milk the world knew until pasteurization was developed in the late 1890′s to eliminate harmful bacteria. Pasteurization can prevent diseases tuberculosis and scarlet fever; it can eliminate salmonella and e. coli. But with the good can also come the bad, according to raw milk advocates. Much of the natural health properties contained in milk can be eliminated in the pasteurization process. In fact, most people suffering from lactose intolerance wouldn’t have a problem consuming raw milk.

But, even though raw milk can have a higher nutritional value, it can still spread disease and contain harmful bacteria. Not so fast, claim raw milk proponents – with proper humane and hygienic treatment, the risk of disease in cows is minimal, though not unheard of.

Government agencies and lawmakers in the English-speaking world, however, are generally on the side of pasteurized milk. In the Queen’s native England, raw milk is only available through farmer’s markets, farms and delivery services. In neighboring Scotland, commonwealth countries like Australia and Canada, and in 11 U.S. states, raw milk is illegal. That Queen Elizabeth II herself consumes raw milk, as Ethan A. Huff of Naturalnews.com points out,

“.. Represents a blatant double standard, where only the ‘elite’ are privileged enough to make their own food choices, while everyone else is subjected to erroneous and arbitrary restrictions on a wholesome food item that has been consumed safely for centuries, long before tyrannical governments came along and prohibited it.”

Where do you stand on the raw milk milk debate? Should it be banned, regulated or freely available? Should people, not governments, decide whether to consume raw milk? Voice your opinion in the comments below.

Image of Queen Elizabeth II via NASA.

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Lara K.

1:16PM PST on Feb 12, 2012

Strange, but tobacco and alcohol are legal... *shakes head sadly*.

send a green star

1:14PM PST on Feb 12, 2012

Let people make their own decisions... this is getting a bit nutty. Explain the facts, maybe post a warning or a label. Humans can look things up if they are interested. After all, we are apparently intelligent hominids, so why all the infantilization?

Debbie C.

4:40AM PST on Feb 12, 2012

I think we can make our own decision of what to eat or drink and not have the governments input on Raw Milk vs Pasteurized milk.

Becky B.

6:13AM PST on Jan 31, 2012

I think that quote at sums it all up that "only the elite are priveledged enough to make their own food choices". We are all victims of a corporate take over of our bodies and minds. I have been in a herd share for many years now, and I love my raw milk. I see the healthy cows grazing on grass, I know and speak regularly to my farmer, and for the first time in my life I feel a connection to my food and nutrition. Know your farmer, touch the land, and feel the difference.

Nancy P.

3:51AM PST on Jan 31, 2012

I am a human and not designed for drinking cows milk....I prefer plant based "milks".....but I also beleive a person should be allowed to make their own decisions on what they want to eat, drink or put inside their bodies.

Masha S.

2:19AM PST on Jan 31, 2012

start a farm and you can also

Lyn S.

1:53PM PST on Jan 30, 2012

I've drank raw milk straight from the farm (all over the world) for most of my younger years and never had a problem. Since reaching adulthood in the UK, the choice was removed (never having found it on any farmer's market I've been to!) and I've had persistent digestive problems. About 6 months ago I found a local farm that will sell me milk straight from their cows ... the digestive problems have gone. There have been no other nutritional, exercise or medication changes and my doctor tells me I'm healthier than I've been in some years.

Lauryn S.

11:46AM PST on Jan 30, 2012

I believe raw milk should be perfectly legal and regulated (as in with strict requirements and random tests and inspections), and a warning on the carton would be perfectly fine, such as "The USDA does not recommend the consumption of raw milk, particularly for individuals with compromised immune systems, the elderly, or children below ___ years." Anyone seeking out raw milk certainly knows the risks, not just the potential benefits; and legalizing and regulating means that strict standards must be followed and adhered to. A succinct warning on the container is more than adequate.

11:41AM PST on Jan 30, 2012

Vero, I don't believe that you can just "go to your nearest dairy farm" to get raw milk (lack of a car or of public transportation going to farms notwithstanding), because I believe that the law currently requires you to have some ownership of the cow in order to be able to obtain raw milk. Therefore, I've read about people trying to buy "shares" of a cow or herd in order to assert ownership, but even this apparently hasn't always been enough to obtain the raw milk "legally." The current issue seems to be VERY far from your "just go to the farm and get it" idea, even if, like I said everyone actually had transportation to such farms.

Vero G.

8:02AM PST on Jan 30, 2012

I find comments like the one above by Huff offensive. As if the elite are the only ones who can go out to a farm and sort this out for themselves. Please! Yes, people in the middle of huge urban sprawls will have difficulty, but then they have difficulty getting a lot of things and more ease getting others. It's called MAKING A CHOICE! There are a few million of us within a short drive to the nearest dairy farm. If we really wanted raw milk, we could get it. So please don't spread around drivel such as Huff is spouting.

Having said that, I am open on the debate. I've not heard anything that makes me think (yet) that I would be better off having raw milk, but I also do not believe that we humans need cows milk every day. Dairy products are fine, especially if they are a blend of cow, buffalo, goat and/or sheep. I'm even fine with camel and horse milk. But I don't believe adults need to drink milk more than once in awhile. With that in mind, my risk level is naturally going to be lower that someone who drinks a liter per day.