West Virginia Senate passes bill legalizing sale of raw milk

The West Virginia Senate on Friday, March 8, 2024, passed House Bill 4911, which would legalize the sale of raw milk. (Getty Images)

West Virginia is a step closer to legalizing the sale of raw milk.

The state Senate on Friday passed House Bill 4911 with a 28 to 5 vote.

Consuming raw milk has been legal in the state through herd-sharing programs since 2016. If the legislation becomes law, selling raw milk would be legal if the milk is sold in clearly labeled containers.

The Senate amended the bill to define “raw” as unpasteurized. The Senate also added a provision that the label contain include the name and physical address of the seller, the date of production, and a warning that “Consuming unpasteurized raw milk may increase your risk of foodborne illness, especially for children, elderly, immunocompromised individuals, and persons with certain medical conditions.” The senate’s version also allows the state commissioner of Agriculture to promulgate rules about the sale of raw milk.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , raw milk is linked to a variety of foodborne illnesses.

In the last 10 years, West Virginia averaged 3.9 foodborne illnesses per year among individuals who reported raw dairy as an exposure, a spokeswoman for the state Department of Health told West Virginia Watch.

Over the same time period, the bureau investigated a single outbreak involving raw milk, a spokeswoman said.

The House of Delegates last month voted 76 to 19 to pass the bill.

The bill will now go back to the House to concur or reject its amendments.

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