Raw milk sales won’t be allowed in Louisiana

Fans of raw milk were watching the Louisiana Legislature this session as a bill allowing the sale of raw milk seemed to be headed for passage. Raw milk has not been pasteurized, and its proponents claim it retains helpful nutrients. The House of Representatives didn’t have a problem with it, passing the bill 77-19 earlier in the month. But last week, supporters’ hopes were dashed when the bill failed to make it out of the Senate Health and Welfare committee. The bill’s sponsor, Rep. Stephen Ortego, D-Carencro, argued that raw milk sales should be treated like oyster sales; let the buyer beware. But opponents of the bill, including Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain, erred on the side of public health, citing the potential presence of E. coli and other harmful bacteria.

Raw milk was once commonly available across the country and in Louisiana, and was, in fact, the principle ingredient in Creole cream cheese in its original form. Families in the early 20th century set raw milk out on the counter or hung it up in cheesecloth until the curds and whey separated and formed fresh cheese. But federal regulation enacted in the late ’80s prohibited raw milk sales nationwide, unless a state chose to approve its own intrastate sales. About 30 states have opted to allow raw milk sales, but Louisiana will remain one that doesn’t—at least for now. —Maggie Heyn Richardson