Category: Agricultural law

According to US Federal Regulation 21 CFR § 1240.61, it is illegal for any person to cause raw milk in final package form to be delivered into interstate commerce for direct human consumption. The intricate web of federal and state laws, however, means the full answer to the question, "Can raw milk be shipped across state lines?" is not so simple.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), between 1998 and 2018, there were 202 outbreaks linked to raw milk consumption, causing 2,645 illnesses and 228 hospitalizations. These alarming statistics are the primary reason for widespread state-level restrictions on the sale of unpasteurized dairy.