{"id":72820,"date":"2026-02-17T17:43:27","date_gmt":"2026-02-17T22:43:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/?p=72820"},"modified":"2026-02-17T17:43:35","modified_gmt":"2026-02-17T22:43:35","slug":"got-raw-milk-michigan-proposal-would-legalize-wider-sales","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/michigan-government\/got-raw-milk-michigan-proposal-would-legalize-wider-sales\/","title":{"rendered":"Got raw milk? Michigan proposal would legalize wider sales"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>A Michigan bill would allow direct farm sales of raw milk and dairy products<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Health experts warn of unpredictable bacterial contamination <\/strong><strong><em>\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Farmers say consumers should be able to decide whether they want to consume raw dairy, knowing its risks\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p>More than a century after pasteurization helped eliminate milk-borne diseases, Michigan lawmakers are debating whether to roll back restrictions on raw dairy sales, sparking a clash between farmers who say adults should decide for themselves and health experts who warn against consumption.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A <a href=\"https:\/\/www.legislature.mi.gov\/documents\/2025-2026\/billanalysis\/House\/pdf\/2025-HLA-5217-Q035W8K4.pdf\">package of bills<\/a> spearheaded by Rep. Matt Maddock and backed by three dozen other Republicans would allow direct farm-to-consumer sale of raw or unpasteurized milk or raw dairy products, including light cream, heavy cream, whipped cream, sour cream, condensed milk, dry milk, buttermilk and cheese.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThere\u2019s nothing better than fresh milk,\u201d Maddock said <a href=\"https:\/\/www.house.mi.gov\/VideoArchivePlayer?video=HGOV-011526.mp4\">last month<\/a> during a legislative hearing<strong>, <\/strong>where he drank a cup of raw milk. \u201cIt\u2019s one of the greatest things in the world. We can allow people to have more choices and enjoy themselves.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Unpasteurized, unprocessed milk comes directly from the animal and has not been heated to kill bacteria. Supporters consider it healthier because it retains natural microbes that are often lost during pasteurization.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/food-safety\/foods\/raw-milk.html\">Centers for Disease Control and Prevention<\/a> warns that raw milk could also contain pathogens like E. coli and Salmonella, and cause foodborne illnesses if consumed. In New Mexico, a newborn recently died from listeria, which health officials said was likely linked to the baby\u2019s mother <a href=\"https:\/\/abcnews.com\/Health\/wireStory\/newborns-death-linked-mom-drinking-raw-milk-pregnant-129867486\">drinking raw milk during pregnancy<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Once a niche interest of organic food aficionados, the raw milk movement has grown in recent years, particularly among the political right, as high-profile backers like US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. argue that government regulations have gone too far.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Related:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/michigan-health-watch\/supporters-tout-benefits-of-kratom-but-will-it-stall-michigan-drug-fight\/\"><strong>Supporters tout benefits of kratom, but will it stall Michigan drug fight?<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/michigan-health-watch\/michigan-doctors-criticize-changes-to-us-childhood-vaccination-schedule\/\">Michigan doctors criticize changes to US childhood vaccination schedule<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/michigan-health-watch\/photo-id-for-diet-pills-michigan-bill-would-ban-supplements-for-minors\/\">Photo ID for diet pills? Michigan bill would ban supplements for minors<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>But so far, the bills have sparked a partisan divide in Lansing, where Republicans advanced the bills out of the House Government Operations Committee without any Democratic support. The debate is expected to resume Thursday in a separate rules committee.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;Good food is actually truly nonpartisan \u2013 our clientele cuts across all political boundaries and religions,&#8221; Jesse Meerman of Green Pastures Dairy in Coopersville, which began processing cheese from unpasteurized milk in 2002, told state lawmakers.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Pasteurization<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Widespread commercial adoption of pasteurization began in the early 1900s to eliminate disease outbreaks. The technique was developed by Louis Pasteur in the 1860s, originally for beer and wine production.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At the time, studies showed that pasteurizing milk significantly decreased infant mortality. A historical review of milk hygiene published by the <a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/30234385\/\">National Library of Medicine<\/a> found that between 1875 and 1925, high infant mortality tied to milk-borne pathogens like tuberculosis and diarrhea declined as pasteurization became more common.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In the early 1900s, cows had been taken from natural habitats into cities for mass production of dairy and meat products, creating unsanitary conditions with animals confined in tight spaces, Ashley Armstrong, owner of Armstrong Farms in southeast Michigan, said in a recent legislative hearing.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" data-attachment-id=\"72823\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/michigan-government\/got-raw-milk-michigan-proposal-would-legalize-wider-sales\/attachment\/raw-milk-maine\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Maincow03152015APRB-scaled.jpg?fit=2560%2C1707&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"2560,1707\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;AP&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;In this Tuesday, March 31, 2015 photo, a dairy cow is milked at the Straw Farm in Newcastle, Maine. The state&#039;s dairy farmers are divided over a potential vote this week on a statewide proposal that could change restrictions on raw milk sales. At issue is whether dairy farmers should be allowed to sell raw milk directly to consumers without a license.  (AP Photo\/Robert F. Bukaty)&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1427786322&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Raw Milk Maine&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Raw Milk Maine\" data-image-description=\"&lt;p&gt;In this Tuesday, March 31, 2015 photo, a dairy cow is milked at the Straw Farm in Newcastle, Maine. The state&amp;#8217;s dairy farmers are divided over a potential vote this week on a statewide proposal that could change restrictions on raw milk sales. At issue is whether dairy farmers should be allowed to sell raw milk directly to consumers without a license.  (AP Photo\/Robert F. Bukaty)&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt; The bill package has exposed a divide between the state\u2019s agricultural community, with some small farmers backing the sale of raw milk and the Michigan Farm Bureau warns it could damage the dairy industry\u2019s reputation.   (Robert F. Bukaty\/Associated Press)&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Maincow03152015APRB-scaled.jpg?fit=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Maincow03152015APRB-scaled.jpg?fit=1024%2C683&amp;ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Maincow03152015APRB.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"In this Tuesday, March 31, 2015 photo, a dairy cow is milked at the Straw Farm in Newcastle, Maine. \" class=\"wp-image-72823\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Maincow03152015APRB-scaled.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Maincow03152015APRB-scaled.jpg?resize=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Maincow03152015APRB-scaled.jpg?resize=768%2C512&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Maincow03152015APRB-scaled.jpg?resize=1536%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Maincow03152015APRB-scaled.jpg?resize=2048%2C1365&amp;ssl=1 2048w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Maincow03152015APRB-scaled.jpg?resize=1200%2C800&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Maincow03152015APRB-scaled.jpg?resize=2000%2C1333&amp;ssl=1 2000w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Maincow03152015APRB-scaled.jpg?resize=780%2C520&amp;ssl=1 780w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Maincow03152015APRB-scaled.jpg?resize=400%2C267&amp;ssl=1 400w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/bridgemi.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Maincow03152015APRB-1024x683.jpg?w=370&amp;ssl=1 370w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"> The bill package has exposed a divide between the state\u2019s agricultural community, with some small farmers backing the sale of raw milk and the Michigan Farm Bureau warns it could damage the dairy industry\u2019s reputation.   (Robert F. Bukaty\/Associated Press)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWhen you combine those dirty conditions in a city with being fed brewers&#8217; waste, the animals got really sick and unhealthy. Pasteurization was created for combating that need and not because raw milk and raw dairy are inherently unsafe,\u201d she said.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But fast forward a century, and Armstrong thinks the government should now allow raw milk sales.<strong>&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cAdults are currently allowed to make informed decisions involving known risks every single day (like) alcohol, vape pens, sushi with raw fish, raw oysters and even raw cookie dough,\u201d she said. \u201cIn those cases, the government doesn\u2019t ban access. Instead, it provides information and allows adults to decide for themselves.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What other states are doing&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Consuming raw milk is not uncommon nationally. If approved, the legislation would make Michigan one of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.realmilk.com\/real-milk-legal-map\/\">more than 30 states<\/a> that allow the sale of raw milk for human or pet consumption, according to an advocacy group.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWhen handled correctly, raw milk can be one of the safest and highest quality foods available on Earth,\u201d said Rick Hitchcock, owner of Lone Oak Homestead in Fowlerville. \u201cEverything begins with a cow herself. A clean, healthy cow produced clean, healthy milk.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Farmers and other supporters contend that pasteurizing the milk doesn\u2019t make it any healthier than it already is. But proper cow hygiene, like brushing away dirt and keeping cow udders clean and dry, reduces the chances of contamination.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And cow hygiene, they say, is only one aspect of ensuring the safe consumption of raw milk.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe speed at which it is cooled is one of the most critical steps in raw milk safety,\u201d Hitchcock said. \u201cRaw milk must be cooled rapidly, ideally in a cooling tank at a temperature below 40 degrees. Cooling slows bacteria growth to a near stop.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>\u2018Playing with fire\u2019<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Even when raw milk looks clean and tests clear, experts say there is no reliable way to guarantee what is inside the tank.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While most raw milk doesn\u2019t contain harmful bacteria, up to 10% of raw milk tanks do, and it\u2019s hard to identify which tanks are contaminated, according to <a href=\"https:\/\/msutoday.msu.edu\/news\/2026\/02\/raw-milk-facts\">a recent guide<\/a> from Pamela Ruegg, chair of antimicrobial resistance at Michigan State University\u2019s College of Veterinary Medicine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cSo, it\u2019s a bit like playing with fire,\u201d she wrote.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Health officials are concerned that individuals who consume raw milk may contract illnesses that are avoidable, like Campylobacter, which can cause a dangerous paralytic disease called Guillain-Barr\u00e9 syndrome, or listeria, which can cause miscarriages or death in young infants.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While some farmers showed support for the legislation during the committee hearing, the Michigan Farm Bureau, which represents 40,000 family farms, opposes it, arguing that it creates \u201clegal and liability concerns for producers.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIn the event of a foodborne illness outbreak linked to raw milk, the resulting public response would not be limited to the individual producer but would likely impact consumer confidence in Michigan dairy products as a whole,\u201d Rebecca Park, legislative counsel for the <a href=\"https:\/\/house.mi.gov\/Document\/?DocumentId=62015&amp;DocumentType=CommitteeTestimony\">Michigan Farm Bureau<\/a>, told lawmakers in written testimony opposing the bills.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThis represents a systemic risk to an industry that has invested heavily in meeting stringent state and federal safety standards.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Republican-backed bills would allow Michigan farmers to sell unpasteurized milk directly to consumers. Critics contend there would be health risks, but supporters say consumers should be able to decide. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":423,"featured_media":72822,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"newspack_ads_suppress_ads":false,"newspack_popups_has_disabled_popups":false,"newspack_sponsor_sponsorship_scope":"","newspack_sponsor_native_byline_display":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_native_category_display":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_underwriter_style":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_underwriter_placement":"inherit","inline_featured_image":false,"apple_news_api_created_at":"2026-02-17T22:43:33Z","apple_news_api_id":"6c423a62-ecce-4166-ba40-4177bfc4b0de","apple_news_api_modified_at":"2026-02-17T22:43:34Z","apple_news_api_revision":"AAAAAAAAAAD\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/w==","apple_news_api_share_url":"https:\/\/apple.news\/AbEI6YuzOQWa6QEF3v8Sw3g","apple_news_cover_media_provider":"image","apple_news_coverimage":0,"apple_news_coverimage_caption":"","apple_news_cover_video_id":0,"apple_news_cover_video_url":"","apple_news_cover_embedwebvideo_url":"","apple_news_is_hidden":"","apple_news_is_paid":"","apple_news_is_preview":"","apple_news_is_sponsored":"","apple_news_maturity_rating":"","apple_news_metadata":"\"\"","apple_news_pullquote":"","apple_news_pullquote_position":"","apple_news_slug":"","apple_news_sections":[],"apple_news_suppress_video_url":false,"apple_news_use_image_component":false,"_newspack_byline_active":false,"_newspack_byline":"","newspack_featured_image_position":"","newspack_post_subtitle":"","newspack_article_summary_title":"Overview:","newspack_article_summary":"","newspack_hide_updated_date":false,"newspack_show_updated_date":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"_wpas_customize_per_network":false},"categories":[2445,2446],"tags":[62],"newspack_spnsrs_tax":[],"coauthors":[2471],"class_list":["post-72820","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-michigan-government","category-michigan-health-watch","tag-rural-michigan","entry"],"apple_news_notices":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.0 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Got raw milk? Michigan proposal would legalize wider sales - Bridge Michigan<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/bridgemi.com\/michigan-government\/got-raw-milk-michigan-proposal-would-legalize-wider-sales\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Got raw milk? Michigan proposal would legalize wider sales - Bridge Michigan\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Republican-backed bills would allow Michigan farmers to sell unpasteurized milk directly to consumers. 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