Delaware’s New Raw Milk Law Could Revitalize Dairy Industry, But Health Risks Loom
Source: DairyNews.today
Dairy Farmers Like Stephanie Knutsen See Economic Potential, While Officials Caution on Safety Concerns
Delaware has taken a significant step to support its struggling dairy farmers by legalizing the retail sale of raw milk, following the passage and signing of a bill by Governor John Carney earlier this year. Advocates of the new law, including long-time dairy farmers like Stephanie Knutsen, see this move as a lifeline for the state's dwindling dairy industry. However, health officials have raised concerns about the risks associated with raw milk consumption, as the product remains unpasteurized and can harbor harmful pathogens.
For Knutsen and her husband, who operate a dairy farm with 50 cows producing 400 gallons of milk daily, this legislation offers renewed hope. “It absolutely has the ability to save the Delaware dairy industry for those who want to get involved in it,” she stated. The Knutsens currently earn approximately $1.45 per gallon for pasteurized milk. In comparison, raw milk can fetch between $5 and $20 per gallon, according to market estimates. This substantial price differential presents an opportunity for small dairy farms to improve profitability amid challenging economic conditions.
Knutsen, who has witnessed the decline of Delaware’s dairy farms from about 100 two decades ago to just 13 today, believes that selling raw milk could make dairy farming sustainable for families like hers. The new law aligns Delaware with 34 other states that allow some form of raw milk sales, although regulations vary widely. States like Pennsylvania permit raw milk sales with a license, while New Jersey restricts raw milk to pet consumption only.
Despite the economic benefits, health officials remain concerned about the safety of raw milk, which bypasses the pasteurization process that kills harmful bacteria such as E. coli, salmonella, and listeria. Alex O’Brien of the Center for Dairy Research in Wisconsin has highlighted numerous outbreaks linked to raw milk consumption, including severe cases of illness involving children. “People die from drinking raw milk,” O’Brien emphasized, noting that the risks have led to litigation against some raw milk producers.
Raw milk enthusiasts argue that the product is creamier and more natural than pasteurized milk, and Delaware Agriculture Secretary Michael Scuse, a supporter of the new law, shared that he himself drank raw milk as a child. Nonetheless, even proponents like Knutsen acknowledge the associated risks, admitting, “I’m never going to sit here and tell somebody that this is just as safe as pasteurized milk. It’s not; it’s riskier.”
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) continues to advise against raw milk sales, especially amid ongoing health concerns such as the bird flu outbreak affecting dairy cattle. However, Delaware officials are moving forward, preparing to draft regulations for raw milk sales that will require monthly testing and involve public health oversight. Agriculture Secretary Scuse emphasized that the state will work closely with health authorities to ensure consumer safety as the regulations take shape.
For Delaware’s dairy farmers, the new law represents a crucial opportunity to sustain their livelihoods and pass the business down to future generations. Knutsen expressed optimism about her farm’s prospects: “This has brought hope to our farm. We can actually see a future for our children, potentially selling raw milk as a viable way to keep cows on the farm.”
For Knutsen and her husband, who operate a dairy farm with 50 cows producing 400 gallons of milk daily, this legislation offers renewed hope. “It absolutely has the ability to save the Delaware dairy industry for those who want to get involved in it,” she stated. The Knutsens currently earn approximately $1.45 per gallon for pasteurized milk. In comparison, raw milk can fetch between $5 and $20 per gallon, according to market estimates. This substantial price differential presents an opportunity for small dairy farms to improve profitability amid challenging economic conditions.
Knutsen, who has witnessed the decline of Delaware’s dairy farms from about 100 two decades ago to just 13 today, believes that selling raw milk could make dairy farming sustainable for families like hers. The new law aligns Delaware with 34 other states that allow some form of raw milk sales, although regulations vary widely. States like Pennsylvania permit raw milk sales with a license, while New Jersey restricts raw milk to pet consumption only.
Despite the economic benefits, health officials remain concerned about the safety of raw milk, which bypasses the pasteurization process that kills harmful bacteria such as E. coli, salmonella, and listeria. Alex O’Brien of the Center for Dairy Research in Wisconsin has highlighted numerous outbreaks linked to raw milk consumption, including severe cases of illness involving children. “People die from drinking raw milk,” O’Brien emphasized, noting that the risks have led to litigation against some raw milk producers.
Raw milk enthusiasts argue that the product is creamier and more natural than pasteurized milk, and Delaware Agriculture Secretary Michael Scuse, a supporter of the new law, shared that he himself drank raw milk as a child. Nonetheless, even proponents like Knutsen acknowledge the associated risks, admitting, “I’m never going to sit here and tell somebody that this is just as safe as pasteurized milk. It’s not; it’s riskier.”
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) continues to advise against raw milk sales, especially amid ongoing health concerns such as the bird flu outbreak affecting dairy cattle. However, Delaware officials are moving forward, preparing to draft regulations for raw milk sales that will require monthly testing and involve public health oversight. Agriculture Secretary Scuse emphasized that the state will work closely with health authorities to ensure consumer safety as the regulations take shape.
For Delaware’s dairy farmers, the new law represents a crucial opportunity to sustain their livelihoods and pass the business down to future generations. Knutsen expressed optimism about her farm’s prospects: “This has brought hope to our farm. We can actually see a future for our children, potentially selling raw milk as a viable way to keep cows on the farm.”
