In order to ensure a safe and wholesome finished product, we utilize rigorous testing procedures that far exceed federal and state regulations. Raw milk must meet the same standards that pasteurized milk does. In most cases, our milk tests at levels far cleaner than the norm. In addition, we are careful and deliberate in our handling methods so that we, like our customers, can enjoy the rich benefits of drinking raw milk.
First, we test each batch of milk at the point of bottling. We select random samples and perform both a coliform test and a standard plate count.
Coliform is a specific kind of bacteria. Many of its forms present no danger and are eaten every day by humans and animals alike. However, Escherichia coli or E. coli is also a member of the coliform family. E. coli represents an added risk of pathogens that can cause food poisoning.
The standard plate count tests for all kinds of bacteria, both those that may indicate a contaminated food supply and those that animal species depend on for survival.
These tests are repeated within an hour of the milk’s arrival at Real Foods Market. This time, an outside lab conducts the testing. We are happy to report that the results these tests compare favorably to our own, and that our milk has never failed a third party test.
Each month, a state-owned lab collects a random milk sample and, again, tests it for coliform and random plate count. We have never failed their tests.
Pathogenic contamination appears first in cows’ manure and spreads from there to the milk supply. Once a month, we hire an outside lab to perform pathogen tests on our cows’ manure. The test covers E. coli 0157, two strains of salmonella, campylobacter, and listeria. The tests have never detected any of these bacteria.
We test our cows for tuberculosis before they initially begin milking and once per year thereafter.