Pus Cell Count in Your State's Milk

by Robert Cohen
http://www.notmilk.com

One cup of cow's milk cannot legally contain more than 50 million pus cells. That's 200 million
pus cells per liter.

Pus in milk? A dairy cow filters ten-thousand quarts of blood through her udder each day and
uses dead white blood cells (somatic cells) to manufacture milk. These dead cells are pus cells.
Dairy scientists are aware that when one quart of milk is tainted with 400 million or more pus
cells, some 35% of the milking cows in the herd are infected with mastitis. Infected udders
discharge mucus, bacteria, and blood into the milk that you and your children drink.

The United States Department of Health and Human Services, along with the Public Health
Service and Food and Drug Administration, has established a 280 page set of protocols that is
collectively referred to as: The Pasteurized Milk Ordinance (P.M.O.)

The foreword of this all-inclusive set of rules and regulations governing every quart of milk sold
in America says: "Occasional milk borne outbreaks still occur, emphasizing the need for
continued vigilance at every stage of production, processing, pasteurization and distribution of
milk and milk products."

It is a breath of fresh air to read an occasional governmental truism regarding milk: "Milk has
the potential to serve as a vehicle of disease and has, in the past, been associated with disease
outbreaks of major proportions."

This document is more than a guideline for milk producers. It's the law. In the preface, the
purpose of the P.M.O. is summarized: "The Grade 'A' Pasteurized Milk Ordinance is
incorporated by reference in Federal specifications for procurement of milk and milk products; is
used as the sanitary regulation for milk and milk products served on interstate carriers; and is
recognized by the public health agencies, the milk industry, and many others as a national
standard for milk sanitation."

Many dairy producers have challenged the laws contained within the all-powerful P.M.O. Courts
have clearly maintained the integrity of these sets of laws when asked to do so. On page vi of
the preface, the P.M.O. states: "The Ordinance has been widely adopted for many years and has
been upheld by court actions. One of the most comprehensive decisions upholding the various
provisions of the Ordinance was that of the District Court, Reno County, Kansas, in the case of
Billings et al v. City of Hutchinson et al., decided May 1, 1934. In this action, the plaintiffs
unsuccessfully sought to enjoin the enforcement of the Hutchinson ordinance on the grounds that
it was unreasonable..."

The courts have repeatedly upheld the sanctity of this set of laws. The dairy industry continues to
ignore the spirit of the laws so enacted. To date, no individual or group has challenged national
enforcement of these statutes. There is a first time for all things.

The table of contents (page vii of the preface) lists the standards for Grade A milk, and defines
"Abnormal Milk" on page 20. The standards for Grade "A" raw milk for pasteurization define
abnormal milk this way:

"Lactating animals which show evidence of the secretion of abnormal milk in one or more
quarters (the udder is divided into four quarters), based upon bacteriological, chemical, or
physical examination, shall be milked last or with separate equipment and the milk shall be
discarded."

The above is further explained ("Public Health Reason"): "The health of lactating animals is a
very important consideration because a number of diseases of lactating animals, including
salmonellosis, staphyloccal infection, and streptococcal infection, may be transmitted to man
through the medium of milk. The organisms of most of these diseases may get into the milk
either directly from the udder or indirectly through infected body discharges which may drop,
splash, or be blown into the milk."

What is "abnormal milk?" The April 25, 2002 issue of Hoard's Dairyman, the dairy farmer's
magazine, addresses that question. Veterinarian Dave Linn testifies on page 341:

"According to the P.M.O., all milk from cows producing 'abnormal' milk should be dumped."

Linn compares "wholesome" milk to "abnormal" milk, and reveals insider industry standards
shared by the National Mastitis Council, United States Department of Agriculture, and Food and
Drug Administration. If cows are infected, milk is abnormal. This is a dirty secret that
government agencies conspire to keep from the dairy-eating public.

Dr. Linn writes: "Research has shown that, with a herd cell count of (200,000,000 per liter) there
may be as many as 15 percent of the cows infected. In herds with a 300,000,000 count, this
figure may be as high as 25%." ("Cell count" refers to the number of somatic cells, dead white
blood cells per milliliter of milk).

So, if 25% of the cows in your state are sick and producing abnormal milk which should be
dumped, and that milk is not dumped, something is seriously wrong with the system. It is clear
that some states are in violation of these rigorous milk standards.

Is your state in violation? If the cell count is over 200,000,000 in your state, please send a formal
complaint to your Department of Agriculture. Start with a phone call. The number should be in
your telephone book.

ADVICE: If the count is over 200 million in your state, the milk is unfit to drink (by THEIR
standards!). File a complaint today.

The number of pus cells in milk in each of America's 50 states can be found at this USDA site:

http://aipl.arsusda.gov/publish/dhi/current/sccrpt.htm

Average 2006 Pus Cell Count per Liter of Milk

AL - 432 Million Pus Cells Per Liter

AZ - 283 Million Pus Cells Per Liter
AR - 457 Million Pus Cells Per Liter
CA - 291 Million Pus Cells Per Liter
CO - 257 Million Pus Cells Per Liter
CT - 288 Million Pus Cells Per Liter
DE - 291 Million Pus Cells Per Liter
FL - 319 Million Pus Cells Per Liter
GA - 428 Million Pus Cells Per Liter
ID - 282 Million Pus Cells Per Liter
IL - 311 Million Pus Cells Per Liter
IN - 327 Million Pus Cells Per Liter
IA - 295 Million Pus Cells Per Liter
KS - 327 Million Pus Cells Per Liter
KY - 395 Million Pus Cells Per Liter
LA - 456 Million Pus Cells Per Liter
ME - 279 Million Pus Cells Per Liter
MD - 296 Million Pus Cells Per Liter
MA - 263 Million Pus Cells Per Liter
MI - 268 Million Pus Cells Per Liter
MN - 319 Million Pus Cells Per Liter
MS - 368 Million Pus Cells Per Liter
MO - 365 Million Pus Cells Per Liter
MT - 221 Million Pus Cells Per Liter
NE - 320 Million Pus Cells Per Liter
NV - 276 Million Pus Cells Per Liter
NH - 243 Million Pus Cells Per Liter
NJ - 334 Million Pus Cells Per Liter
NM - 269 Million Pus Cells Per Liter
NY - 256 Million Pus Cells Per Liter
NC - 355 Million Pus Cells Per Liter
ND - 294 Million Pus Cells Per Liter
OH - 309 Million Pus Cells Per Liter
OK - 333 Million Pus Cells Per Liter
OR - 223 Million Pus Cells Per Liter
PA - 306 Million Pus Cells Per Liter
RI - 135 Million Pus Cells Per Liter
SC - 383 Million Pus Cells Per Liter
SD - 308 Million Pus Cells Per Liter
TN - 463 Million Pus Cells Per Liter
TX - 282 Million Pus Cells Per Liter
UT - 255 Million Pus Cells Per Liter
VT - 250 Million Pus Cells Per Liter
VA - 331 Million Pus Cells Per Liter
WA - 251 Million Pus Cells Per Liter
WV - 323 Million Pus Cells Per Liter
WI - 258 Million Pus Cells Per Liter
WY - 277 Million Pus Cells Per Liter

(state average = 288 Million Pus Cells per Liter)