March 30, 2009

Connecticut, which has one of the most liberal raw milk laws in the US, is considering limiting the sales of raw milk to farms.

At the centre of this subject was the safety of raw milk. Connecticut currently allows the sales of raw milk in supermarkets with a warning label, but seven people became ill from consuming the product in 2008.

Some dairy farmers felt they would suffer without being able to sell to grocery stores because they do not have the means to put the raw milk on their farms. Other farmers believe the bill would help reduce the transportation costs of bringing raw milk to the supermarkets.

While raw milk does not contain antibiotics, the Federal Drug Administration does not recommend the consumption of raw milk and noted that over 1,000 people have been sickened by the product from 1998-2005.

There are currently 30 states in the US that allow customers to buy raw milk, but the product could only be purchased directly from farmers in most states.