State lawmakers in West Virginia have passed a bill allowing people to buy and sell raw milk through herd-share programs, according to the Bluefield Daily Telegraph. Raw milk was previously not allowed for sale in the state. Herd-share programs allow those who wish to drink raw milk to buy a membership in a club that grants them partial ownership of the herd on paper. Herd-share programs for raw milk are already legal in Virginia, Kentucky, Indiana and Alabama. Retail sales will remain illegal in WV. Those who buy into a herd-share program will reportedly also have to sign a form stating that they acknowledge the health risks of drinking raw milk. The bill states that doctors will also be required to inform health officials of any illnesses related to raw milk consumption. Raw milk is milk that has not been pasteurized to eliminate potentially harmful pathogens such as E. coli, Campylobacter, and Salmonella. Health experts often warn against serving raw milk to children, the elderly, or anyone with a compromised immune system.
