After oil, the most controversial liquid in the media lately may be milk — raw milk.
Advocates of raw milk argue that it’s healthier than pasteurized milk; detractors say it comes with bacterial health risks. Advocates say the production of raw milk reinvigorates small farm dairies and that sales offer consumers a healthy choice other than factory-farmed produce.
Yet worries about bacteria in raw milk have persuaded 10 states to ban all raw milk sales, while some allow retail sales, and others, like Massachusetts, permit only farm sales.
The commonwealth’s position was made clear in January, when the Department of Agricultural Resources issued a cease-and-desist order for raw milk buying clubs, groups of consumers who pool resources and pick up the milk from farms for later distribution among members. The clubs, the department declared, are not licensed milk dealers.
Raw milk supporters, along with Suzanne the cow, responded in May with a “drink-in” on Boston Common. Dozens later testified at a Department of Agricultural Resources hearing on the practices of the raw milk industry. Officials promise more hearings in coming weeks, but they are sticking to their support of farms sales only and a moratorium on milk buying clubs.
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