--- title: Regulators go after sales of raw milk date: 2005-12-13T09:53:10-08:00 author: Bill Marler canonical_url: "https://marlerclark.com/news_events/regulators-go-after-sales-of-raw-milk" section: News --- [All News](/news_events) / [Outbreaks](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/outbreaks) / # Regulators go after sales of raw milk ![](http://www.ecoliblog.com/Got_Raw_Milk_ShirtLores.jpg) AP reports that the Food and Drug Administration claims that raw milk is dangerous, possibly carrying deadly pathogens such as campolybacter, salmonella and [E. coli](http://www.about-ecoli.com/). The Department of Agriculture says that dairies must be licensed and regulated to ensure the safety of the milk and milk products that are produced for human consumption. Selling raw milk for human consumption is legal in 28 states, according to the Weston A. Price Foundation, a Washington, D.C., raw milk advocacy group. Five states allow raw milk for animal consumption, a loophole that raw milk fans exploit. In Washington state, raw milk sales are legal if the farm is licensed through the state. Licensing requires monthly testing of the milk, and inspection of the farm and milk bottling room. Each bottle of raw milk must also contain a warning label. Currently only six dairies in the state are licensed to sell Grade A raw milk. In other states, and at dairies that aren’t licensed, “cow-share” programs exist quietly to provide raw milk to fans of the product. In a “cow-share,” people buy part-ownership in a cow – they claim that the milk is free, because they own the cow. Because the milk is not bought and sold, the dairies that keep the cows are exempt from licensing requirements. The Department of Agriculture has been sending cease-and-desist letters to raw microdairies that aren’t licensed, sparking a small battle over whether the state has a right to regulate what many consider a private operation. ### Other E. coli Lawsuits [Raw Farms linked to another Raw Milk Cheese E.coli Outbreak - 9 People sickened - Company refuses to recall product](https://marlerclark.com/raw-farms-linked-to-another-raw-milk-cheese-e-coli-outbreak-7-people-sickened) [10 with E. coli linked to Cheese](https://marlerclark.com/3-with-e-coli-linked-to-cheese) [Sycamore Pool in Chico California Contaminated with E.coli - Two teens in ICU](https://marlerclark.com/sycamore-pool-in-chico-california-contaminated-with-e-coli-two-teens-in-icu) [Deadly Nationwide E.coli Outbreak Linked to Grimmway Farms Organic Baby and Whole Carrots sickens 48](https://marlerclark.com/nationwide-e-coli-outbreak-linked-to-grimmway-farms-organic-baby-and-whole-carrots) [E. coli Outbreak tied to Red Cow and Hen 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The team at Marler Clark is here to answer all your questions. Find out if you’re eligible for a lawsuit, what questions to ask your doctor, and more. [ Get a free consultation ](https://marlerclark.com/contact) ##### Related Resources ###### [E. coli Food Poisoning](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/e-coli/e-coli-food-poisoning) What is E. coli and how does it cause food poisoning? Escherichia coli (E. coli) is a highly studied, common species of bacteria that belongs to the family Enterobacteriaceae, so... ###### [E. coli O157:H7](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/e-coli/e-coli-o157h7) E. coli O157:H7 is a foodborne pathogen that causes food poisoning. E. coli O157:H7 is the most commonly identified and the most notorious Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) serotype in... ###### [Non-O157 STEC](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/e-coli/non-o157-stec) Non-O157 Shiga Toxin-Producing E. coli can also cause food poisoning. 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