A NEW law has officially been implemented in a US state concerning milk, with buyers and sellers benefiting.
The legislation frees up some restrictions that are common elsewhere nationwide, but grocery stores still face roadblocks.
A ban involving milk has been lifted on August 1 (stock image)[/caption]
In North Dakota, House Bill (HB) 1131 took effect on August 1, allowing dairy producers to market raw milk and products made from it.
Lawmakers introduced the bill in January and passed it in the House at 82 to 9 and the Senate 45 to 0.
HB 1131 amends the restrictions on raw milk sales put in place through the previous HB 1515 in 2023.
The new bill freeing up the sale and consumption of raw milk was spearheaded by Representative Dawson Holle (R), the primary sponsor, who explained that it “clears up some discrepancies of the first bill,” per the Dairy Star.
“People were asking questions like, ‘Is cream considered milk?’” he noted while speaking with the publication.
Not only was there a demand from consumers in the state to have products made from raw milk, but the desire for dairy producers to sell cream and other products was also there, according to Holle.
With HB 1131, a simplified and more regulated sale process is now possible, and HB 1515 only applied to raw milk itself.
“This [HB 1515] created an additional hurdle for both farmers and consumers,” Holle, the youngest legislator in North Dakota history, commented.
“The expansion allows cream, butter and other products to be sold legally.”
The Republican representative emphasized that HB 1131 “eliminates some of the federal and state restrictions, lifts the red tape and gives dairy producers another option.”
“Before, we had two choices: sell to processors or sell cow or herd shares.”
Farmers and dairy producers in North Dakota now have more access to the market to sell milk.
“Today, a 10-cow dairy cannot send milk to a processing plant,” Holle told Dairy Star.
“As markets move, laws must move too. Whether you are a large scale with 10,000 cows or small scale with just 10 cows, you should have a place in the market.”
States with Raw Milk Bans
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Louisiana
- Maryland
- Michigan
- Montana
- New Jersey
- North Carolina
- Ohio
- Tennessee
- Virginia
- West Virginia
- Wyoming
“Smaller farms should be given a fair shake and be able to make money at the end of the day,” he continued.
HEALTH CONSIDERATIONS
Of course, there is the stipulation of raw milk sales being highly controversial due to health concerns, and many other states still have some form of bans on its sale, along with federal restrictions.
Top retailers and grocery stores themselves, for the most part, are also not allowed to have raw milk on shelves, and that would still be the case in North Dakota.
Milk bought in-store typically goes through a five-step process before being available for sale.
This includes pasteurization, which heats the milk to a specific temperature to kill bacteria such as E.coli, Salmonella, and Listeria.
Each of these bacteria could cause serious illness to consumers, as detailed by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), raw milk is also 150 times more likely to cause illness than milk that has been pasteurized.
SOME LOOPHOLES
Except, along with North Dakota, several states now have loopholes, including California, Pennsylvania, and New York.
These loopholes include sales as long as permits are obtained, requirements of warning labels, and if the raw milk comes directly from where it was produced.
As of 2025, only about 1% of Americans consume raw milk weekly, according to PBS.
Walmart shoppers also recently spotted a milk mishap earlier this year that left them “deeply grossed out.”
Other milk-based items, like chocolate, have been recalled recently after a “life-threatening” ingredient was found.
