Serving the Flathead Valley & Montana since 2006. A reality based independent journal of observation & analysis. © James Conner.

9 December 2014 • 4:35:40 MST

Raw milk legalization debate returns to the legislature

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Nancy Ballance

Laws — such as Montana’s — forbidding the sale of unpasteurized (raw) milk save lives. They also incense a handful of natural foods zealots who stiffarm science, arguing that not only is raw milk safe, it’s healthier than pasteurized milk. They want raw milk legalized in Montana — and in 2013, they almost got their way. Bamboozled and appalling gullible and irresponsible legislators whooped HB-574 through the House 96-3. Fortunately, HB-574 stalled in the Senate.

Having come that close, I reckoned the raw milk lovers would take a run at legalizing their beloved beverage in the 2015 legislature. Well, thanks to Rep. Nancy Ballance (R-Hamilton), it looks like they’re back. Ballance requested LC1110, which has the short title “Revise laws related to raw milk.”

Nothing has changed since 2013. The science remains the same as I described it on 26 March 2013 in my post Montana House sours on food safety, approves raw milk bill. Raw milk is and always will be dangerous.

When, if, Ballance’s bill gets a hearing in committee, we’ll learn whether there's been any change in the politics. Whether only pasteurized milk should be sold in Montana is a public health issue, but the people pushing HB-574 successfully framed the question as whether people have the right to buy, eat, drink, and serve to their children, any food they want.

In 2013, I was especially outraged that Democratic legislators — legislators from the party that considers itself the party of science — voted for HB-574 and against sensible public health policy:

The willingness of Democrats to throw public health considerations under the manure wagon is especially disheartening. Why do the same legislators who are working their tails off to expand Medicaid in Montana refuse to kill legislation that legalizes the sale of raw milk, a product long proved to be dangerous, especially to children?

I’ve neither forgotten nor forgiven what happened in 2013. This issue is high on my legislative watch list for 2015.