Ohio bill would legalize direct sales of raw milk for human consumption

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – Two Ohio lawmakers are attempting to make it easier for residents to obtain raw milk.

House Bill 406, introduced on Aug. 5 by Reps. Kellie Deeter (R-Norwalk) and Levi Dean (R-Xenia), would allow farmers to sell raw milk directly to customers. The legislation does not allow for retail sales or deliveries.

“I'm not even necessarily a raw milk advocate, but I am a liberty advocate,” Deeter said.

Raw milk is milk that has not undergone pasteurization, a process of heating food products to kill pathogens. Selling raw milk is illegal in Ohio unless a consumer has a herd share agreement, where they buy a “share” of a cow or herd and pay fees for their boarding and management. Farmers can also sell raw milk labeled for pet use.

Deeter argued that residents are already c