Raw Milk Explained: Safety, the Microbiome & What Families Should Know with Mark McAfee

Know what you’re actually drinking.

Raw milk is often discussed as though every product comes with the same risks, quality, and production standards. Mark McAfee, founder of Raw Farm and the Raw Milk Institute, says the reality is much more nuanced.

In this episode, Mark joins me to explain what he believes families should understand about raw milk produced specifically for human consumption, from how the cows are cared for and milked to how quickly the milk is chilled and how frequently it is tested.

Our conversation also goes deeper into the microbiome. We discuss raw kefir, butterfat, bioactive components of milk, and the role gut health played in the way I supported Kicker during cancer treatment. 

Most importantly, this conversation isn’t simply about choosing raw over pasteurized dairy. It’s about understanding your source, asking better questions, and making informed decisions based on your family’s individual circumstances.

 

Guest 

Mark McAfee is the founder of the Raw Milk Institute and founder of Raw Farm. He founded the Raw Milk Institute in 2011 to help farmers implement risk-management practices for raw milk intended for direct human consumption.

His work focuses heavily on testing, farmer education, food-safety planning, and what the organization describes as producing “low-risk” raw milk. Raw Farm currently produces raw milk, kefir, butter, cheese, cream, and other dairy products.

 

In This Episode 

04:40  Understanding the difference between types of raw milk

09:12  What production and safety practices look like at Raw Farm

15:23  How Raw Farm tests its milk

18:33  Understanding raw milk, bioactives, and the microbiome

25:31  Season’s experience using raw dairy during Kicker’s treatment

28:32  Gut health, butterfat, and supporting the body during treatment

36:12  How to find and evaluate a raw milk source

41:15  What consumers should know about “raw” cheese labels

46:37  Antibiotics, gut health, and rebuilding the microbiome

48:35  Mark’s experiences hearing from raw milk consumers

 

Key Takeaways

• Not all raw milk is produced the same way. Mark emphasizes sourcing, sanitation, testing, chilling, and production standards.
• Know your farmer and ask questions. Testing practices and transparency matter when evaluating a raw dairy source. 
• The microbiome is central to this conversation. Season and Mark discuss dairy through the lens of gut health, microbial diversity, and nutrition.
• Cancer support needs individualization. Season shares how raw dairy fit into Kicker’s experience and her own approach, rather than presenting one protocol for every family. 
• Labels don’t tell the whole story. Mark encourages consumers to understand how dairy products are actually produced and processed.
• Food quality starts at the source. The conversation repeatedly returns to how the animals, farm, handling, and testing affect the finished product.

 

“You have to know your farmer to know your food.” — Mark McAfee

 

Resources Mentioned

 

Guest Links:

Raw Farm: https://rawfarmusa.com/ 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/raw_farm_usa 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/raw-farm/ 

Raw Milk Institute: https://www.rawmilkinstitute.org/

 

Recommended Tools & Resources:

LumeBox Red Light Therapy

Red light therapy is one of my favorite complementary tools to support healing, reduce inflammation, encourage cellular repair, and promote recovery during and after treatment.

 

Free Protocol Guide
https://yourthriveformula.com/free-protocol-guide

 

LumeBox Device
https://bit.ly/seasonjohnsonlume

Use code SEASONJOHNSON to save $260.

 

Community & Support:

Join Thrive Through Cancer Community: https://biodynamicwellness.com/thrive-through-cancer 

Thrive Beyond Cancer Program: https://biodynamicwellness.com/thrive-beyond-cancer

Learn More About Biodynamic Wellness: https://biodynamicwellness.com

 

Connect with Season:

Website: seasonjohnson.com

Follow along on Instagram: @seasonjohnson

Follow Season on Facebook: Season Johnson