Category: Dairy regulations

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), raw milk and raw milk products were linked to 202 outbreaks, 2,645 illnesses, and 228 hospitalizations between 1998 and 2018. This significant public health risk is the core reason behind federal regulations that treat raw fluid milk differently than raw cheese, answering the question: Why is raw cheese legal but not milk?.

Following the infamous 2008 melamine scandal that saw China tighten its food safety laws, consumer and industry questions about dairy imports have persisted, particularly: Is milk powder banned in China? The answer is not a simple yes or no, as recent regulatory changes have created nuances that affect different dairy products and market segments.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), between 1998 and 2018, raw milk was linked to more than 2,500 illnesses, 98 hospitalizations, and three deaths in the U.S.. This staggering data helps explain why is raw goat milk illegal in many states and regulated federally, primarily due to the serious risks associated with consuming unpasteurized dairy products.