How to Get Raw Milk, Better Eggs, and Other Questionable Foods
Many things, including food, get a little more fun when they are illegal, and I have always been of the opinion that you should be able to put whatever you want into your body because that’s your business. While consuming raw dairy products, uncooled eggs, and horse meat is technically not illegal, buying them can be a little questionable, and we’re here to show you how to get these items.
Be dangerous with dairy products
Raw milk is a mixed liquid, with some claiming it’s a miracle elixir, while others insist that the unpasteurized product is likely to kill you. (If you are concerned about the health risks associated with eating raw dairy products, check out the CDC’s FAQs on the matter, or simply don’t drink them.)
If you’re not intimidated by Escherichia coli and the like, or if you hear sirens about richer, potentially more flavorful milk and cheese and want to continue your quest, there are a few things you should know. Getting raw milk and other dairy products legally can be confusing as laws vary from state to state and federal law prohibits the sale of any raw dairy products across state lines. If you need guidance on what to do and what not to do in your area, this interactive map , this site, and the diagram below from the Farmer and Consumer Rights Foundation can help you figure out the rules and regulations for your state.
Don’t be discouraged if your state falls into the “illegal” category, as there may still be some loopholes that you can take advantage of. For example, if you live in Florida, you can buy raw milk for your pet, and once you get it back home, you really don’t mind indulging your secret milk shame, just as nothing stops you from eating dog food.
You can also participate in the rationing of the herd , which allows you to buy a portion of the farmer’s (or cow’s) herd. Thus, you are not paying for milk, but for caring for the cow (or goat) and the labor associated with milking the cow. If you are interested in joining a herd split, this website can help you find a local Weston A. Price branch in your area that will refer you to any herd split farmers in your city.
Raw cheese is slightly easier to obtain and completely legal to sell if it is clearly labeled “unpasteurized” and aged for at least 60 days. This is not to say that it is impossible to rejuvenate with raw cheese in the United States, but it is definitely sketchy. I would never advise you to do anything illegal, but the tasting table will, and you can read their illegal dairy procurement guide here .
These eggs have no cold
The USA is unique in that we chill eggs, but this is not some kind of cultural affectation; there is a very good reason for this. Eggs naturally have their own small protective barrier, called “cuticle” or “plaque,” that coats the porous calcium carbonate to keep out water and bacteria. According to NPR , here in the US (along with Australia, Scandinavia and Japan) we love that our eggs are spotless and we wash them in hot soapy water, removing this natural barrier along with dirt and chicken feces. We then spray the eggs with an oily protective coating to keep out water and refrigerate them to prevent microbial growth.
Other countries are taking a different route and vaccinating laying hens against Salmonella, leaving the eggs unwashed and the cuticles intact. These eggs can be left at room temperature without much concern. Like everything else in this world, neither method is 100% effective 100% of the time, but both seem to work pretty well, and the key to making them safe for consumption is consistency in storage and handling. After the eggs are washed (by the manufacturer or by yourself ), you must put them in the refrigerator, and once they are in the refrigerator, they will stay there. Sweaty eggs are a breeding ground for mold and other nasty microorganisms, so you need to maintain a certain level of cold.
If for some reason you don’t want to keep your eggs in the fridge – maybe you have a tiny, stupid IKEA fridge like mine? – finding unwashed eggs is actually pretty easy: you just have to think outside of the grocery store. The FDA egg handling requirements only apply to large-scale operations that are not sold directly to consumers, so it means that the eggs you get from the farmer’s market, directly from a farmer or a good friend’s chicken coop, are not washed. and can sit on your counter for 2-3 weeks. If you’re not sure if they’ve been washed, just ask, although you can usually tell by looking at them. (Pieces of straw adhering to the shell are a gift.)
Start rolling around
Getting your hands on some horse meat used to be as easy as a trip to IKEA – since, not that easy, and we don’t even know how good we had it. In all fairness, most Americans are not very fond of horse meat, but curious eaters are curious, and some argue that eating wild horses is actually good for the environment .
Eating horses is not illegal, but until 2011 there was a ban on funding inspections of horse slaughterhouses, making meat processing illegal . This ban has now been lifted, but the issue is still a bit complicated, as no new funds have been allocated for the necessary checks. This means you probably won’t find it on Whole Foods shelves anytime soon, but things could go in that direction.
But if you need horse meat right now, the internet is best. You can buy the alarmingly named My Little Brony jerky at Cowely’s Fine Foods in the UK, or get steaks, sausages or meatballs shipped to you from Kezi in Scotland . If you’d like to do a quick preview of the slightly sweet, slightly game-like meats, you can check out this blind taste test at the Huffington Post .
Of course, with all these slightly illegal products, there is always a do-it-yourself way. Just buy a cow, chicken and horse and eat whatever foods and byproducts you want. It’s more work, but at least you can trust the supplier.