Why did we start drinking milk? The dairy industry created a prominent  supply and demand for milk in our society, but it wasn’t always this  way. Before modern milk health regulations, milk was not a common drink,  and it was often rampant with disease and caused frequent health issues  and infant deaths. The city of Rochester wasn’t immune to the diseases  dirty milk caused. Health officials here in Monroe County played an  important role in the efforts to industrialize milk. However, their  intentions might not have been for the greater good of public health.