There has just been an outbreak of severe illness, resulting in coma, from drinking raw milk. This could be a public health issue.
First ... please post a link to your "factoid".
Second ... if I decide to purchase and consume raw milk from a local farmer, it's none of Fedzilla's freakin' business.
So don’t drink it. But allow others to make the choice for themselves.
Yes, there is a legitimate risk from this, and I think it gets heavy focus from regulators because milk is so often given to infants and toddlers, whose immune systems aren't well-eveloped yet, and who are thus more likely to suffer severe harm from a milk-borne infection.
I think it's reasonable for the federal government to prohibit interstate shipment of raw milk across because 1) the Constitution does give the federal government the right to regulate interstate commerce, 2) no state government has formally objected to this federal law (and in this particular case, it appears that the farmer is shipping into Maryland, creating a violation of Maryland law re raw milk, so the FDA is in effect helping uphold Maryland's sovereignty as well), and 3) this federal law does not prevent any person from legally obtaining raw milk if they want it. Dairy cows can live in any state and supply demand within that state, to the extent state law allows it (and especially with raw milk, it's a heck of a lot safer to purchase it locally, so as to minimize the additional bacterial growth that may occur during a more extended transit time, and more hand-offs from dairy to distributor, to subdistributor, to retailer, to consumer, each with a potential for partial loss of refrigeration.
I would have a much bigger problem with the federal government prohibiting interstate commerce in something that cannot reasonably and practically be produced in every state (e.g. something requiring a major investment in manufacturing technology, that can only be profitable if manufactured and sold in quantities larger than most states' separate markets for it). But as for raw milk, anyone who wants it and is having trouble getting it, should take up the matter with their state government.
Milk has been pastaurized for less than 100 years...can raw milk really be that dangerous? There has been plenty of research that shows how pastaurization makes milk harmful to your body. Think about it, doctors and breastfeeding experts stress that you should never heat your breastmilk because it will destroy the nutrients. Why would cow’s milk be so different?
We drink raw milk and are grateful to be able to do so.