Whereas, there has been a well documented history of milk borne illnesses throughout the nation associated with the consumption of raw milk and raw milk products; and

Whereas, Federal agencies such as FDA and CDC and numerous States have reported recent illnesses and deaths associated with the consumption of raw milk and milk products such as cheeses produced from unpasteurized milk; and

Whereas, the FDA continues to report continued importation of significant amounts of cheeses manufactured from raw milk, with laboratory analysis of these cheeses confirming the presence of Listeria and various other pathogens; and

Whereas, AFDO supports mandatory pasteurization for all milk and milk products intended for direct human consumption except where alternative procedures to pasteurization are provided (i.e. approved method of curing of certain cheese varieties) to ensure the safety of the finished products; and

Whereas, State Public Health and Agriculture Officials are reporting increased activity on part of State Legislatures to amend current laws or pass new laws that will allow for the sale of raw milk products, coupled with an increase in grassroots agricultural production of small farms producing or intending to produce raw milk products such as milk and cheese, as well as a growing inaccurate perception in the small farm and public arena that by buying “Cow Shares” consumers and farmers then believe they may purchase/sell raw cow or goat’s milk as a share of the animal; therefore

Be it Resolved, that AFDO update previously approved June 14, 2003 Position Statement on Raw Milk and Milk Products to include current illness data associated with the sale of raw milk products and position statements of various public health and industry entities; and

Be it Further Resolved, that the AFDO Position Statement be sent throughout the nation to State Public Health and Agriculture Commissioners and related associations such as NASDA, APHA, and ASTHO; to FDA District and Regional Directors and FDA Headquarters for their awareness; as well as to State Public Health and Agriculture program officials for presentation to their legislatures who may be considering adopting or amending dairy laws that would permit the sale of raw milk and milk products.

[View AFDO Position on Raw Milk]

[View AFDO Letter to FDA & CDC - December 13, 2006]

[View CDC Response]

[View FDA Response]

FDA and CDC Remind Consumers of the Dangers of Drinking Raw Milk (Joint Press Release, March 1, 2007)

 

Questions & Answers:  Raw Milk (FDA Web Posting, March 1, 2007)

 

CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (Marh 2, 2007)