Iowa Legislature Considers Legalizing Raw Milk: Daily Iowan Reader, Feb. 28

Iowa legislature considers legalizing raw milk

Milk may soon be on the list of raw products Iowans may purchase.

A few weeks ago, a bill was introduced into committee that, if passed, would make it legal for farmers to sell raw milk on their farms. Since then, debate has followed, and the committee heard voices from those on both sides at a committee meeting Wednesday morning.

“The reason this bill is important is we have a growing constituency in Iowa who wants access to this product,” Rep. Jason Schultz, R-Schleswig, said.

Raw milk is milk that has not been pasteurized. In 1987, the Food and Drug Administration mandated all milk must be pasteurized.

Since then, several states have found ways to make it available to consumers, such as through herd sharing. In a herd share, a consumer owns a cow and therefore has access to the unpasteurized milk produced from that cow. Iowa currently does not allow consumers any access to raw milk.

Schultz, the committee chairman, he said he supports the bill because if consumers can buy raw meat and raw eggs, there is no reason they shouldn’t be able to buy raw milk. 

“It is assumed that it is the final customer’s responsibility to prepare that food,” Schultz said.

Those in opposition to raw milk say the risks are simply too high. The purpose of pasteurization is to kill off dangerous bacteria such as salmonella and E. coli that can be found in raw milk. Without pasteurization, some fear the health risks.

Read more here.

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