Quite a few people are proponents of raw milk. However, I am not quite convinced as to its safety. A recent study found that more than 1/3 of raw milk samples tested positive for H. pylori. Four hundred raw milk samples were screened and 139 of those samples tested positive for the presence of the glmM gene which is an indicator of H pylori infection. This bacterium is responsible for gastric ulcers and is typically treated today with a regimen of antibiotics and antacids. The International Journal of Food Microbiology (Feb.21, 2008) contains a study that shows high occurrences of H. pylori bacteria in raw cow’s, goat’s, and sheep’s milk.
There is also mounting evidence that the mycobacterium paratuberculosis is a key player in the cause of ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s Disease. So even though raw milk may be healthier in some aspects it appears to be unhealthy due to contaminants.