787px-Ronpaul1.jpgFrom Ron Paul’s website:

Mr. Speaker, I rise to introduce legislation that allows the shipment and distribution of unpasteurized milk and milk products for human consumption across state lines. This legislation removes an unconstitutional restraint on farmers who wish to sell or otherwise distribute, and people who wish to consume, unpasteurized milk and milk products.

Hard as it is to believe, the federal government is actually spending time and money prosecuting small businesses for the “crime” of meeting their customers’ demand for unpasteurized milk! Recently the Food and Drug Administration conducted a year-long sting operation targeting Rainbow Acres Farms in Pennsylvania. As a result of this action, Rainbow Acres’ customers will no longer be able to purchase unpasteurized milk from this small Amish farm.

Mr. Speaker, many Americans who the government wishes to deny the ability to purchase unpasteurized milk have done their own research and come to the conclusion that unpasteurized milk is healthier than pasteurized milk. These Americans have the right to consume these products without having the federal government second-guess their judgment about what products best promote health. If there are legitimate concerns about the safety of unpasteurized milk, those concerns should be addressed at the state and local level.

I urge my colleagues to join me in promoting individual rights, the original intent of the Constitution, and federalism by cosponsoring my legislation to allow the interstate shipment of unpasteurized milk and milk products for human consumption.

For a candidate that is against regulation of nearly ever kind, I suppose I am not too surprised by his stance on this. However, what is necessary (and lacking) from both the pro and con raw milk advocates, is a real discussion of how to reduce the risk posed by the consumption of raw milk (See, Real Raw Milk Facts).

My guess is that Ron Paul has no interest in that discussion (other than a Libertarian sound bite), and I have frankly given up on the rationality of the proponents of raw milk to carry a dialogue further than they are right and I am wrong.  That is why I do what I can to limit the ability to sell raw milk state by state, legislature by legislature and governor by governor. 

I take the position that limiting raw milk sales saves kids (See, a few videos).  You might disagee, but that is my position.  I may not win all the battles this year, but four out of twelve so far (and Minnesota will make five) is not too bad, and that leaves seven to go.