Pasteurization has been used for many years to kill these bacteria when milk is processed for bottling or the production of other dairy products. Pasteurization is the process of heating milk for a set period of time to a set temperature to kill bacteria. By heating the milk, bacteria that can cause human illnesses are killed or inactivated. Minnesota Statutes 32.393 Limitation on Sale of Milk: "No milk, fluid milk products…shall be advertised, offered or exposed for sale…for the purpose of human consumption in fluid form in this state unless the same has been pasteurized and cooled… this section will not apply to milk… occasionally secured or purchased for personal use by any consumer at the farm where the milk is produced. Raw milk, or milk straight from the cow, sheep or goat without any further pasteurization or processing, can contain harmful bacteria that may cause people who consume the milk to become sick. These bacteria can come from many sources on the farm including: - The animals themselves
- Milking equipment contaminated with manure
- Water
- Soil
- Anywhere that fecal contamination can be found
Some of these bacteria include: - Campylobacter
- E. coli O157:H7
- Salmonella
- Listeria
Because of the potential risks associated with consuming raw milk, Minnesota law restricts the sale of this type of milk for human consumption. The law does provide an alternative for people who want to consume raw milk. On an occasional basis, consumers may go directly to farms to secure the raw milk directly from the farmer. This exemption applies to cow, goat and sheep farms (or any other species producing milk for human consumption) equally. If you choose to consume raw milk, do your homework on potential health risks. Consumers must also: - Go directly to the farm to obtain the milk
- Bring their own containers! Farmers are not allowed to bottle their milk for sale.
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