Michigan Group Works to Find Common Ground Between Raw Milk Advocates and Policy Makers

All across the United States, raw milk is a controversial issue. Over the past year alone there have been several high-profile legal cases and legislative battles surrounding the question of whether raw milk should be available for sale to the public and in what capacity.

Michigan was the first state to ban raw milk sales in the late 1940s and the least likely state to deregulate it now – yet it is there that a group of 13 individuals, made up of farmers, academics, healthcare professionals and regulators, have been quietly working together for six years to find common ground between raw milk advocates and legislators.

In December 2012, the group released a 90-page report detailing conclusions and recommendations about raw milk, some of which contest conventional public health beliefs. In March 2013, the Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development endorsed the report.

The full report is available online but here are some of the key findings:

• Raw milk consumption should be encouraged as a part of state economic development, as it supports “the mutual goal of having more people include milk in their diet.”
• Contrary to the FDA’s warnings that raw milk can be hazardous to health, the report states that raw “milk is not inherently dangerous” and other foods commonly consumed can also support the growth of disease-producing bacteria.
• Contrary to the FDA’s usual doctrine, the report suggests that raw milk is more nutritious than pasteurized milk, as it includes fresh proteins and trace minerals that are beneficial to humans.
• Also contrary to the FDA’s usual doctrine, the report suggests that raw milk can fight against some chronic diseases and ailments, including asthma, allergies and lactose intolerance.

Read more about the report’s findings here:

http://modernfarmer.com/2013/08/a-model-for-reconciliation-over-raw-milk/

The Campaign for Real Milk is a project of the nutrition education non-profit, The Weston A. Price Foundation. Donate to help fund research into the benefits of nutrient dense foods.  http://www.westonaprice.org/lab