Economy

Raw milk restrictions loosen as consumer demand climbs

Despite health concerns, lawmakers also see it as a way to help a struggling dairy industry.
Bottles of raw milk from from Raw Farm of Fresno, Calif., are displayed for sale at a store in Temecula, Calif., on Wednesday, May 8, 2024. (AP Photo/JoNel Aleccia)

Several states are moving to loosen restrictions on unpasteurized milk, shrugging off decades of federal warnings in an effort to support a slumping dairy industry and respond to growing consumer demand.

The latest is Delaware, where a bipartisan-backed bill legalizing direct-to-consumer raw milk sales from dairy farms is heading to Gov. John Carney (D), who has indicated he will sign it.

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