I grew up on a farm, drinking raw milk, so I have no problem with this as long as it sis sold with a warning:
After years of failed attempts, the Iowa Legislature has given final approval to a bill that would enable Iowans to buy raw milk, fresh from the farm.
Following Senate approval Monday, Senate Bill 315 goes to Gov. Kim Reynolds for her signature.
The Senate approved the bill, previously approved by the House with amendments, on a 37-13 vote. It will let producers sell unpasteurized milk to Iowans from their farms, as well as cheese, yogurt, ice cream and other raw milk products.
"I call it the fresh milk bill," said Sen. Jason Schultz, a Crawford Republican and the bill's floor manager. He added that he'd waited 17 years for a raw milk bill to clear the Legislature.
Several major farm organizations, including the Iowa State Dairy Association and Iowa Dairy Foods Association, registered to lobby against the bill. Proponents included American for Prosperity, a conservative libertarian group that helped organize the tea party movement.
“The passage of SF 315 is a victory for families and agriculture across our great state and reaffirms that the government has no right to dictate what Iowans choose to drink,” Tyler J. Raygor, deputy state director of American For Prosperity-Iowa, said in a statement following the Senate's vote. “With this legislation, Iowans will have the freedom to choose what to feed their family while enabling innovation in the fresh milk industry.”
After years of failed attempts, the Iowa Legislature has given final approval to a bill that would enable Iowans to buy raw milk, fresh from the farm.
Following Senate approval Monday, Senate Bill 315 goes to Gov. Kim Reynolds for her signature.
The Senate approved the bill, previously approved by the House with amendments, on a 37-13 vote. It will let producers sell unpasteurized milk to Iowans from their farms, as well as cheese, yogurt, ice cream and other raw milk products.
"I call it the fresh milk bill," said Sen. Jason Schultz, a Crawford Republican and the bill's floor manager. He added that he'd waited 17 years for a raw milk bill to clear the Legislature.
Dairy groups opposed bill
Supporters say raw milk tastes better and has more nutrients, while opponents say it could contain bacteria that's dangerous to children and could spark a public health outbreak.Several major farm organizations, including the Iowa State Dairy Association and Iowa Dairy Foods Association, registered to lobby against the bill. Proponents included American for Prosperity, a conservative libertarian group that helped organize the tea party movement.
“The passage of SF 315 is a victory for families and agriculture across our great state and reaffirms that the government has no right to dictate what Iowans choose to drink,” Tyler J. Raygor, deputy state director of American For Prosperity-Iowa, said in a statement following the Senate's vote. “With this legislation, Iowans will have the freedom to choose what to feed their family while enabling innovation in the fresh milk industry.”
House member who's infectious disease doctor sounds warning
Rep. Megan Srinivas, a Democrat and Des Moines infectious disease doctor, said last week during the House's debate on the bill that she's concerned children will become ill, with potentially lethal ramifications, if adults give them unpasteurized "milk that can make them sick."
Bill allowing sale of raw milk finally passes Iowa Legislature
Opponent warns that raw milk consumption can be hazardous, even deadly. Proponent says bill allow Iowans 'freedom to choose,' enables dairy innovation
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