Shifts in U.S. Raw Milk Industry Amid Regulatory Changes
Mark McAfee operates the largest raw-milk dairy in the United States, with his farm generating approximately $30 million annually. Despite a history of being linked to multiple outbreaks and recalls, sales of raw milk have increased, with more than 10 million Americans now consuming it. Between 2023 and 2024 alone, national weekly sales rose by 65%.
Under the leadership of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., federal policies on raw milk have shifted. Kennedy has publicly supported raw milk, celebrating its benefits despite scientific consensus that it poses a higher risk of foodborne illness compared to pasteurized milk. This shift in federal stance aligns with McAfee's long-term advocacy for raw dairy products.
Since 2006, McAfee's farm has been connected to eight outbreaks, affecting at least 233 people, though McAfee disputes the direct linkage of his farm to these incidents. He argues that the government’s tracking methods do not conclusively prove his farm's responsibility for the outbreaks. Notably, a significant outbreak between 2023 and 2024 was linked to salmonella, affecting over 170 individuals.
McAfee has faced criticism for using milk containing pathogens to produce cheese, a practice federal regulators have sought to halt. Despite this, McAfee maintains that his farm adheres to federal regulations by aging cheese before sale, a method he claims mitigates bacterial risks, although research contradicts this claim.
Federal enforcement against McAfee's practices has been stalled, notably after the new administration deprioritized such cases. The farm has continued to operate, with McAfee emphasizing consumer education and leveraging online influencers to promote raw milk as a healthful choice.
In early 2025, McAfee's farm was linked to another E. coli outbreak related to its cheese products, impacting nine individuals, primarily young children. McAfee contested the findings, asserting that the farm no longer uses milk flagged for issues in cheesemaking.
