‘Spectacular Growth’ in Raw Milk Sales Despite Alleged Bird Flu Risk, Say Farmers

Jugs of raw milk. Courtesy of Peter Bartlett

Despite government warnings to stay away from raw milk due to the potential spread of bird flu, dairy farmers say sales continue to surge as many in the raw health wellness community remain skeptical of the alleged risk factors.

Raw milk sales have reached new highs even as authorities at the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) caution that the unpasteurized dairy may contain live H5N1 virus, which they alleged has been linked to bird flu outbreaks across dozens of dairy farms.

Mark McAfee, founder of the Fresno-based Raw Milk Institute, recently told The Epoch Times that, if anything, warnings from raw dairy consumers have only contributed to a greater demand for raw dairy products.

“I’ve had several customers say that whatever the FDA tells them to do, that they will do the opposite,” said Mr. McAfee. “They understand that this is part of an ongoing smear campaign against the industry, and they are instead going to listen to their farmer.

“They’ve run out of attacks, and this bird flu scare is only the newest version,” he added.

Mr. McAfee points to the lack of any bird flu illness in humans attributed to the consumption of raw milk to make his case that the claim is part of an alleged industry-funded propaganda war against independent dairy farmers.

“It is not contagious to humans at all,” said Mr. McAfee. “The science shows that there are no genetic markers indicating it has the capacity to skip to humans. None.”

Since the dire government warning, the industry has continued to experience a huge uptick in sales, according to Mr. McAfee.

“The demand for raw milk has really been unbelievable, just spectacular growth,” said Mr. McAfee. “We’ve witnessed growth in the market of 50 percent for three years in a row, and that number only continues to grow.”

Mr. McAfee added that he has received multiple calls from people in California requesting samples of H5N1-infected milk in hopes of building tolerance to the disease, an act he doesn’t advocate.

“Some people have requested, but that is not our broader audience,” said Mr. McAfee.

In its updated May 10 guidance, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released a statement claiming that “the FDA and CDC [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] have long standing information regarding the increased risk of foodborne illness associated with numerous pathogens that may be present in raw milk. This increased risk exists for both humans and other animals that might drink raw milk.”

Collusion

However, many raw milk advocates remain cynical of the stated risk factors associated with raw dairy, believing that for years, government authorities have colluded with large corporate dairy producers to weed out the small independent farmers in an effort to create uniformity in the marketplace and decrease competition.

Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) told The Epoch Times that a corrupt alliance between “Big Ag” and Department of Agriculture rule-makers had created a monopoly that has led small, independent farmers to the brink of extinction.

“The deck is definitely stacked,” Mr. Massie previously told the publication. “Eighty-five percent of meat comes from four companies, and this monopoly exists as a result of government regulatory policy. There is an incestuous relationship between these large companies and the Department of Agriculture.”

In January, the alleged failures to adhere to the government’s regulatory policy led to Miller’s Organic Farm, a popular Amish farm in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, being the subject of an armed raid by officials on suspicion of selling “illegal milk,” among other products. The Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General and the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture filed the lawsuit on April 9 against the farm’s owner, Amos Miller, alleging that he had violated Pennsylvania’s Milk Sanitation Law by operating without government-mandated permits.

The farm had initially been ordered to halt all sales of its raw dairy products until a court ruling on April 12 permitted Mr. Miller to sell his goods anywhere in the world except in the state where he resides.

Raw Milk

For decades, a community of dairy farmers and nutrition advocates have campaigned for the right of individuals to produce, sell, and consume fresh, unprocessed milk.

Advocates claim the consumption of raw milk can lead to numerous health benefits, including improving the immune and digestive systems and curing eczema and irritable bowel syndrome. According to raw milk enthusiasts, the pasteurization process not only destroys dangerous pathogens like E. coli, salmonella, and campylobacter but also destroys its healthy nutrients.

However, government agencies insist the potential downside of drinking raw milk far outweighs any perceived benefits.

The CDC and other agencies advise against it, claiming that raw milk “can carry harmful germs, such as campylobacter, cryptosporidium, E. coli, listeria, brucella, and salmonella” that “can pose serious health risks to you and your family.”

The CDC claims that raw milk-related outbreaks led to 2,645 illnesses and 228 hospitalizations between 1998 and 2018.

The FDA also warns against its consumption.

“Decades ago, pasteurization of milk was adopted as a basic public health measure to kill dangerous bacteria,” the FDA said in a statement. “This measure largely eliminated the risk of getting sick from one of the most important staples of the American diet.”

However, raw milk advocates claim that consumer concerns should be focused not on the raw but on the pasteurized milk, according to Mr. McAfee.

“Raw milk comes from one farmer and is full of all the nutrients needed for life that nature intended,” said Mr. McAfee. “If pasteurized, not only are all the nutrients dead, but there is no telling how many dairies and cows and different potential hazards go into that pot.”