Nov 12, 2008, 10:29 PM
The limit is 750 million somatic cells per liter. In California, the milk produced averages about 300 million per liter.
To put this into perspective, it's probably like dropping a drop or two of somatic cells per liter of milk. I base this on the fact that blood contains 1 billion red blood cells for every few drops and that blood is 40% or so red blood cells.
This doesn't bother me. I'm drinking milk right now.
Quote:Grade "A" Pasteurized Milk Ordinance (2003 Revision)
GRADE "A" RAW MILK AND MILK PRODUCTS FOR PASTEURIZATION,
ULTRA-PASTEURIZATION OR ASEPTIC PROCESSING
Somatic Cell Count......Individual producer milk not to exceed 750,000 per mL.
To put this into perspective, it's probably like dropping a drop or two of somatic cells per liter of milk. I base this on the fact that blood contains 1 billion red blood cells for every few drops and that blood is 40% or so red blood cells.
This doesn't bother me. I'm drinking milk right now.