December 15, 2021

 

Georgia, US may consider sales of raw milk for human consumption

 

Dairies in Georgia, the United States, are experiencing dire financial straights, causing an interim study for the Georgia General Assembly to consider making raw milk as legal as peaches.

 

It comes in a year that has seen year-over-year declines continue in the number of dairy operations, continuing a long trend of farmers deciding to exit the dairy business.

 

Since 2003, the United States has lost more than half of its licensed dairy operations, now just shy of 32,000 dairy operations.

 

Georgia is experiencing that decline.

 

The state currently only permits raw milk sales for use as pet food. The legislative study committee could have the General Assembly considering the sale of raw milk for human use by this time in January 2022.

 

Before that occurs, however, Peach State lawmakers will have to work out regulations and standards to prevent any raw milk sold in Georgia from carrying harmful bacteria.

 

State Rep. Clay Pirkle, R-Ashburn, said Georgia might improve food safety with new legislation. "Anyone can bottle and sell raw milk under a pet label if they pay a small licensing fee (to the state) Pirkle said. "No inspections, no regulations, no safety guidelines."

 

Pirkle chairs the interim study. It will make recommendations shortly to the General Assembly.

 

Georgia is a modest dairy production state with declining licensed dairy herds.

 

Georgia Milk Producers and the National Milk Producers Federation will likely split over the study recommendations. Georgia Milk Producers favors new raw milk regulations and standards, whereas National Milk Producers do not condone raw milk consumption due to the dangers of bacteria and viruses that are killed during pasteurisation.

 

The Georgia Department of Public Health has recorded only one raw milk-associated outbreak in recent years. That was in 2007. The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (DCD) warns consumers to avoid drinking raw milk.

 

Rep. Pirkle said he is not advocating that raw milk can be safe, but like sushi, raw oysters and raw or runny eggs come with risks. Rep. Rebecca Mitchell said the assembly shouldn't "trivialise food safety." She said if the safety of raw milk can be "vastly increased", she will consider supporting it.

 

Retail raw milk sales are legal in only 10 US states, including South Carolina. Direct raw milk sales to consumers in 17 US states, including Mississippi, are legal.

- Food Safety News