RT1- Issues Regarding Raw Milk Sales and Consumption

Glen 201-202
Organizers: Ron Schmidt and Allen R. Sayler
Convenors: Ron Schmidt and Allen R. Sayler

1:30 Viewpoint: Regulatory Perspectives on Raw Milk in the United States — Claudia Coles, Washington State Dept. of Agriculture, Olympia, WA, USA

1:45 Regulatory Perspectives on Raw Milk Sales in Canada — Rejean Bouchard, Dairy Farmers of Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada

2:00 Viewpoint: The Case for Raw Milk — TBD

2:15 Roundtable Discussion: Ron Schmidt, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA – Moderator

Questioners: Todd Pritchard, The University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA; Carolyn Smith DeWaal, Center for Science in the Public Interest, Washington, D.C., USA; TBD

Abstract
Currently, pressures are being applied on US and Canadian regulatory agencies as well as legislative bodies to allow the sale of raw milk. While there is variation between agencies, most regulations prohibit the sale of raw milk for human consumption. Others allow sale, but with certain restrictions. Restrictions on the sale of raw milk are supported, in general, by public health officials and microbiologists, based upon the potential risks of pathogenic microorganisms and are substantiated by association with raw milk in foodborne illness outbreaks. Many consumer groups also support the position taken by public health officials. However, raw milk proponents extol the virtues of raw milk by presenting a variety of nutritional, health and safety claims for raw milk as opposed to pasteurized milk. The objective of this roundtable is to have an open discussion to examine all sides of the issues, to open these issues for discussion from an objective scientific perspective, to examine the legitimacy of the perceived benefit claims for raw milk, and to formulate a meaningful regulatory approach.