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I am wondering if there is a difference in the flavors between the raw goat milk and pasteurized? 

Also, is there any difference in health benefits?  Or do the risks of raw milk out-weigh the benefits of it? 

Am I just better off pasteurizing the milk if I am going to share with others?

There is a significant difference in flavor, yes. Raw milk cheese is brilliant.

The point of pasteurization is to kill off anything harmful in the milk, but it also kills a whole lot of good yummy things. This is not necessary if you're confident in the sanitation and cleanliness of your milk and the health of your goats. You should be fine eating raw cheese then.

There are health benefits, as pasteurization does decrease vitamins, proteins and minerals found in the milk. As for the risks? From this article here, if it makes you feel better to read it from someone who's done more research:

QuoteThe relative risk of becoming ill from drinking raw milk is about 9 times greater than it is from drinking pasteurized milk, but the absolute risk of developing a serious illness (i.e. one that would require hospitalization) from drinking raw milk is exceedingly small: about 1 in 6 million.

Like I've said, if you're worried about some week or two week old milk that you want to make into cheese, you could try pasteurizing just for peace of mind.

No...won't be using anything over 3 days anymore!  The stress from the anxiety negates any benefits of using raw!   

All chevre I've ever bought has been made from pasteurized goat milk since it's illegal to sell raw in our state.  I thought that the chevre tasted great!  But then...I had nothing to compare to.  I should experiment and take the same batch of milk and make it two different ways.  I guess that will be the only way that I can have a personal understanding of the difference in flavor.

Yes, experimenting is a good way to learn    .



Susan

All my friends who eat my cheeses know that I use raw milk and that some of the cheeses are aged less than 60 days . No one has ever complained or chosen not to try them or enjoy them.

I say let others decide their risk levels .

Realistically you have as great a chance of getting struck by lightning as getting sick eating raw milk cheese.

So stay  away from lightning rods or wide open fields during thunderstorms and keep your goats healthy and your milking   area clean . 

Thank you, Gregore!  That is very comforting!!

I read that children and older people should not consume raw milk, due to their immune systems not functioning at an optimal level.  Is this true of raw cheeses, too?

Theoretically, they have a higher risk. If there's cheese you are suspicious about, don't feed it to anyone really old or young or pregnant or sick.

It is true that those 3 categories make up the bulk of those that get sick from raw milk , though I also wonder how many of the old or young where sick when exposed as usually after 3 to 4 years of age your immune system should be working fine .

But with the lack of healthy eating being done by the majority of those living in North America , the level of what is considered healthy has fallen quite low.

I believe that it's happening all over the world!  The Asian diet is not what it used to be.  So many Western foods have invaded, leaving them with the same health issues as the Western world.