Dairy Cow Teat Dip - Great for Pools and Spas!

Stonyfield Farm "Organic" is recalling their 32 ounce plain yogurt product because it may contain food grade sanitizers. And even though I don't eat things made from cow's milk, I got curious about what a "food grade sanitizer" is and what it is used for. Here's what I found: Food grade sanitizers are used by the dairy industry as teat dips. These are germicidal solutions which helps reduce the rate of mammary infections caused by staph and strep pathogens. Because bacteria from cow feces enters the teat canals, it's a breeding ground for these pathogens which cause mastitis. Mastits or mammary infections, cause high levels of somatic cells in the milk. Somatic cells by the way, (if you're still eating dairy products), are leukocytes, AKA: "pus". (sorry)... And thanks to a powerful dairy lobby, if you're in the U.S., you might want to know that the amount of cells the USDA permits in milk is almost twice as much as the European Union will allow. In an effort to minimize somatic cells, dairy cow's udders are treated with this food grade sanitizer solution either as a pre-milking dip, a post-milking dip or both. This teat dip treatment is usually sprayed on before the machine milk cups are placed on the animal. Of course residue remains on the animal's body and contaminates the milk, as in the case of the Stonyfield Farm Organic Yogurt . So what exactly is in this food grade sanitizing teat dip?

• iodophor (iodine)
• detergents (soap)
• Chlorine (an oxidant disinfectant)
• Acidified Sodium Chlorite (an antimicrobial)
• Sodium hypochlorite (laundry bleach)
• Chlorhexidine (a chemical antiseptic)
• Dodecyl Benzene Sulfonic Acid (a pesticide)
• Alpha hydroxy acids (a skin exfoilater)
• Nisin (a preservative)
• Glycerol Monolaurate (an antimicrobial)
• Quaternary Ammonium (another microbicidal)

Any combination of these ingredients are found in food grade sanitizers... in teat dips. You know... these chemicals bear a close similarity to the stuff we treat the algae in our pool with. I think rather than using the Green-Out Powder, next time I just might try milk or a "food grade sanitizer" instead. And all kidding aside, dairy cows live awful lives, and an adult drinking secretions from another species is also a horrrible idea. Won't you consider going Vegan instead?