Raw Milk Cheeses

Term	Definition
Raw Milk Cheeses	"Raw milk" refers to cheeses made from unpasteurized milk, meaning that the milk has not been heated more than 100F (40C). Below this heat threshold, hundreds of varieties of benefitical bacteria remain alive, interacts with the milk to provide more complexity and depth of flavor to the cheese. Due to rare but potential illness from unpasteurized milk, the FDA restricts the distribution of raw (unpasteurized) milk cheeses aged less than 60 days. Many small farmers feel that fresh milk from healthy animals, handled in a responsible manner and used immediately, does not require pasteurization. The California Milk Advisory Board

Term

Definition

"Raw milk" refers to cheeses made from unpasteurized milk, meaning that the milk has not been heated more than 100F (40C). Below this heat threshold, hundreds of varieties of benefitical bacteria remain alive, interacts with the milk to provide more complexity and depth of flavor to the cheese. Due to rare but potential illness from unpasteurized milk, the FDA restricts the distribution of raw (unpasteurized) milk cheeses aged less than 60 days. Many small farmers feel that fresh milk from healthy animals, handled in a responsible manner and used immediately, does not require pasteurization.

The California Milk Advisory Board