The sale of raw milk could soon be legalized in Louisiana.

State legislators approved a bill that removes the state’s total ban on raw milk sales.

“Lawmakers added a stipulation to the bill saying raw milk would not be used for human consumption, but can still be bought,” WBRZ reports.

WBRZ reports:

House Representative Kimberly Coates pushed for the bill as she believed it would help keep Louisiana farmers afloat after thousands of farms have been lost over the years.

She told WBRZ the plan is to allow the sale of everything but ingestion.

“Right now, I don’t plan on bringing it back for human consumption, and this was mostly for the farmers to be able to sell their milk and not just pour it out,” Coates said.

The raw milk will go through monthly testing for salmonella, but there are concerns that the testing may not be enough to keep it bacteria-free.

“Testing of the milk can help, but when you test today, it could have [bacteria] tomorrow,” Veterinarian Christine Navarre said.

The proposed legislation awaits the signature of Republican Gov. Jeff Landry to become law.

News of the bill’s potential passage coincides with public health agencies fearmongering about avian influenza affecting dairy herds.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) sent an open letter to state and local officials urging the implementation of measures to stop the sale of raw milk.

FDA Urges States To Implement Dairy Herd Surveillance Testing Program, Measures To Stop Sale Of Raw Milk In Open Letter

Per Axios:

Until lawmakers passed Rep. Kimberly Coates' (R-Ponchatoula) HB467 during the last regular legislative session, Louisiana was one of a small handful of states with a full ban on raw milk sales, according to a website that tracks its availability for those hoping to purchase it.

As it worked its way through the legislature, the bill merited hours of public comment, much of which emphasized talking points heard on conservative media.

When the bill received overwhelming votes to pass the state House on May 31, members were heard mooing in the chambers. The bill was sent to Landry's desk June 4 for his signature.

Once law, it'll require raw milk products carry a label that says it isn't for human consumption and warn that it hasn't been pasteurized and "may contain harmful bacteria."

"What you do with it after you get it" is the buyer's business, said state Senate agricultural committee chair Sen. Stewart Cathey Jr., when the bill passed that body May 21.

Coates' intentions for the product appeared clear that day as she stated that "many people [are] looking for healthy choices and even be able to use it for their pets."

 

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