Raw Milk Freedom Act

Food
,
1

Raw Milk Sales and Distribution Regulation

Purpose
To establish a federal framework allowing individuals and small farmers to sell and distribute raw milk, ensuring consumer access to nutritious products while safeguarding public health.

Findings

  1. Raw milk consumption benefits human health.
  2. Current regulations disproportionately affect small farmers.
  3. States’ varying laws create confusion.

Definitions

  1. Raw milk: Unpasteurized milk from cows, goats or sheep.
  2. Small farmer: Farms with ≤$250,000 annual revenue.

Federal Regulation

  1. Allows raw milk sales directly to consumers.
  2. Requires labeling: “Raw Milk - Not Pasteurized”.
  3. Exempts small farmers from federal licensing.

Preemption
Preempts state laws restricting raw milk sales.

Compliance

  1. Registration with USDA.
  2. Annual inspection.
  3. Adherence to sanitation guidelines.

Enforcement
USDA and states share enforcement authority.

Effective Date
180 days post-enactment.

States Where Selling Raw Milk is Illegal or Restricted*

Illegal

  1. Nevada
  2. Louisiana
  3. Montana
  4. New Jersey
  5. Maryland

Restricted

  1. California (permitted but heavily regulated)
  2. Washington (licensed distributors only)
  3. Oregon (registered dairy farms)
  4. Wisconsin (limited sales)
  5. New York (permitted but regulated)

States Allowing Raw Milk Sales

  1. Arizona
  2. Connecticut
  3. Idaho
  4. Maine
  5. Michigan
  6. New Hampshire
  7. North Dakota
  8. Oklahoma
  9. Pennsylvania
  10. South Dakota
  11. Tennessee
  12. Texas
  13. Utah
  14. Vermont
  15. Wyoming

Congressional Action Needed
Pass legislation to override restrictive state laws.

Proposed Legislation*
“Raw Milk Freedom Act”

Additional Resources

  1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
  2. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
  3. National Organic Coalition (NOC)
  4. Raw Milk Producers Association (RMPA)
53 Likes
2

Yes, raw milk for all! If there is worry that big companies will start selling their bloody puss water raw, only allow it for small-scale farm-to-table situations or cooperative memberships.

10 Likes
3

Literally came here to specifically see if someone had already addressed being able to sell/buy raw milk directly. :raised_hands:t2: It’s something I would love to do (buy), but buying into shares is so expensive in CO.

9 Likes
4

I agree that raw milk needs to available to all who want it but this should be addressed at the state level.

2 Likes
5

Yes, please! This would be wonderful to have raw milk in NY. Customers at my food stand for vegetables were constantly asking for raw milk in Oneida County NY. This is wanted across NYS. I will restart the dairy at my farm. It was a dairy farm but Rome, NY litigation has me currently shut down due to No Right To Farm policy. LET US FARM!

3 Likes
6

Love this! I would be happy to drink raw milk from farmers i can trust.

1 Like
7

Why anyone would want to drink puss and drug laden animal secretions, rip babies away from their mothers after a forced pregnancy, I’ll never understand. We are the only animal on the plant that drinks another animals breast milk and post infancy. There are crisis level issues and this isn’t one of them.

8

What you have described is inaccurate. Good farmers know and care for their animals and their environment. Healthy food is at a definite crisis level.

9

Can you make it limited to organic (or whatever the correct equivalent term is for milk)?

We can buy it here in SC but only at certain small stores, not the chain groceries. I don’t know what laws apply.

10

I wouldn’t limit this to only farms with equal or less than $250,000 in annual revenue. I think all farmers should have the right to sell raw milk. Individuals should take personal responsibility and only buy from farms they trust, no matter the size.

11

Local Farmers need to be able to sell to Grocery Stores. It’s too difficult to find a farmer that sells Dairy products, It’s too difficult to have to travels miles and miles to purchase it from farmers. Dairy Farmers are far and few between. OPEN it up totally. A friend lives in a state that allows purchase directly from Farmers, They’ve yet to find one.

12

Legalize Raw Milk!