The North Carolina state Senate’s agriculture committee recently approved the annual Farm Act, which initially included a proposal to ban raw milk. This provision was requested by N.C. Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler, who cited concerns about diseases such as salmonella and E. coli spread through raw milk. Troxler also mentioned new research indicating that raw milk could transmit bird flu, posing a threat to the state’s poultry industry and potentially evolving to infect humans more easily.
However, following significant public outcry from over 100 raw milk supporters at a legislative hearing, lawmakers decided to remove the proposed ban. The amendment was introduced by Sen. Brent Jackson, R-Sampson, who explained that the decision was in response to numerous communications from constituents. “This is trying to appease the thousands of emails I’ve had, text messages, phone calls,” Jackson stated.
During the meeting where this reversal took place, Commissioner Troxler did not speak but had previously compared partial legalization of raw milk sales in North Carolina to playing Russian Roulette with public health.
Sen. Warren Daniel, R-Burke, chaired the meeting and allowed vocal expressions from attendees despite breaches in typical legislative decorum. He humorously remarked about hearing mooing when attendees booed an amendment limiting raw milk sales to herd-sharing groups.
The support for raw milk spanned across political lines. Michele Morrow and Sen. Sophia Chitlik both advocated for more consumer options regarding raw milk sales despite their differing political views.
Doug Holland of the North Carolina Dairy Producers Association expressed concern over consuming unpasteurized dairy due to potential pathogens like E. coli and H5N1 bird flu present in raw milk.
In addition to discussions on raw milk, another contentious issue within the Farm Act was a provision making it harder for individuals to sue pesticide companies for health damages—drawing parallels with past legislation limiting pollution lawsuits against hog farms.
Senator Jackson argued these legal protections were necessary for farmers’ access to affordable products needed for production. However, opponents like Chitlik criticized these measures as prioritizing big business interests over individual rights and freedoms.
Chitlik commented on this aspect of the bill: “They both put big business over personal freedom… I just have a very hard time believing that raw milk is a bigger threat to North Carolinians than harmful forever chemicals.”
