Yes, I looked up one time and there's a lady near me who offers live grains in a sterilized mason jar .. prefers to meet at the police station parking lot for safety . I haven't followed up on it yet, because of the reasons you and the article cited. I just can't imagine consuming liters and liters of kefir day after day, week after week. The powdered culture allows me to make a couple of batches and then take a break for a long stretch, without having to feed and fuss over a jar of white blobs.

I already have a cat who demands feeding and fussing day in and day out, that's enough for me thanks