Pasteurize Milk -- Or Not?

Recently the topic of pasteurized milk was discussed at dinner.  I have never objected to it but thought I better look into "modern day" opinion before deciding whether or not to maintain my current view.  The Wikipedia web site helped greatly:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raw_milk

 

I now continue my original "take" on the subject based on years of eating raw oysters and all kinds of food at public events and in public places; not seeing adverse effects of my husband eating cheese or sour cream that has grown a little mold (which he believes is medicinal) and eating meat cooked very rare; knowing that e-Coli exists everywhere; and now having read the pretty small number of people in the USA who may have been affected, according to a 2002 FDA report, by unpasteurized milk.  Many people throughout the world still consume unpasteurized milk and milk products, according to the Wikipedia article, and many purposefully so.  I am not hearing of them experiencing noteworthy adverse effects.

 

Given the statistics of ill health from foods (which is often short-lived and not always deadly) versus being injured, maimed, or killed in every day accidents, I'll not obsess over the comparatively minor stuff.  However, if a person is more comfortable with stringent milk processing, that's certainly an acceptable option -- and a safe one!