A bill that would allow the sale of unpasteurized milk to consumers in West Virginia was vetoed last Wednesday by Governor Earl Ray Tomblin. Senate Bill 30 would have made it legal for consumers to purchase raw milk by owning shares in an on-farm dairy herd. Tomblin vetoed the bill, stating “signing this bill into law would pose a serious risk to public health.”

The West Virginia Senate passed the bill in February by a vote of 18-16, and the House passed it in March by a vote of 81-19.

Prior to the veto, IDFA and the National Milk Producers Federation sent a joint letter to Governor Tomblin urging him to reject the bill. Read the letter here.

“IDFA supports the Governor’s veto decision wholeheartedly,” said Ruth Saunders, IDFA vice president of policy and legislative affairs.  “Pasteurization allows fresh wholesome milk to move from the farm to the consumer. Raw milk skips the pasteurization step and allows too much food safety risk without any added nutritional benefits.”

For more information about the bill and IDFA’s state legislation efforts, contact Saunders at rsaunders@idfa.org or 202-220-3553.