A legislative committee has approved a bill that would allow residents of Utah to begin purchasing raw milk in stores, according to the Salt Lake Tribune.
The Utah Dairymen’s Association and the Utah Public Health Association firmly opposed the bill, fearing a backlash against the state’s dairy industry as a whole should people become ill from drinking raw milk. Unpasteurized milk carry the possibility of bacterial contamination, including salmonella and E. coli.
The Utah Department of Health has taken a neutral position on the bill, expressing some reservations, but also recognizing that there is a legitimate demand for raw milk.
Currently, four Utah dairies produce raw milk.