John Cook is a fourth generation dairy farmer from Wiltshire in the south west of England. His own struggles with health issues have led him to view cow welfare in a very different light. Despite industry regulators sounding the alarm about raw milk consumption, John continues to produce raw milk for an ever-growing consumer base, and he spoke clearly and comprehensively to UK Column about what drives him.
Cook realized that having made such radical changes to his own lifestyle, particularly his diet, that making the same adjustments to his dairy herd would probably produce positive results. The results have been so impressive that the farm can barely keep up with demand, which is fueled not only by a desire to support local business, but also by a deep-rooted belief in the health benefits of consuming raw milk. And this demand can only be met within the “farm gate.” Cook explains that he can only sell milk on the premises, which is just one of the mounting regulatory hurdles he must clear.
In a broad, clear explanation of who buys raw milk and why, he provides significant anecdotal evidence of the health benefits. Many of his customers have credited their recovery from debilitating conditions to consuming raw milk, or to making significant dietary changes away from refined and processed foods. In this interview, Cook goes into detail about why milk from some cows may be healthier. Easy to digest He believes his abilities are superior to others and relates this to the genetics of the individual in question.
A passionate and energetic speaker, Cook leaves no doubt that the food industry is a sophisticated tool for subjugating people; most of the food it offers is highly addictive, cheap, and does nothing to benefit human health. In his own experience, he lost a lot of weight by cutting out sugar, but this came with painful withdrawal symptoms. When he put cows through the same abstinence regime, feeding them a grass-only diet, he saw astonishing results in terms of milk quality, but only after about five months of complaints from the herd. Cook explains in a very compelling way the relationship between gut health and food, and how simple the diet should be for cows, and for humans.
Alongside concerns for the health of livestock and the nation, Cook is concerned about food security in the UK. With people moving away from farming and all practical skills, he believes the majority of the population is extremely vulnerable if the food supply is cut off. This raises complex philosophical questions about farmers' place in society, and in particular their value.
Cook was not content to fight one battle at a time. Raw Milk Producers AssociationHe wants to reverse the steep decline in raw milk producers through dialogue with organisations such as the Food Standards Association (FSA). He believes there are currently only around 120 farms operating in this way in the UK (raw milk is already Illegal in Scotland(The FSA has a section on its website titled “How we protect people who choose to drink raw milk”, making raw milk sound more like nuclear waste than a healthy gift from nature. He's facing an uphill battle. There's no doubt about it.
John Cook is an inspiration as an exemplary, powerful and knowledgeable defender of traditional practices that have been thwarted from all sides. You wouldn't expect anyone to step up in the name of science to support his cause, and yet his supporters continue to flock to him. He can be found near Purton in Wiltshire at: Dora's Dairy.
