Raw Milk Laws by State & Country

Raw milk is unpasteurized milk that comes directly from the mammary glands of dairy animals including cows, goats, sheep, camels, alpacas, buffalo, donkeys, and other mammals.

Raw milk has not been treated or subjected to boiling, pasteurization, homogenization, UV radiation, high-pressure processing, or any other process meant to alter its composition.

Raw milk is milked, filtered, cooled, bottled, and sold direct-to-consumer, customers, cheese makers, or retailers.

When you choose raw milk, you are supporting farmers directly - instead of corporate milk processors.

There are two distinct categories of raw milk: raw milk intended for human consumption and raw milk intended for pasteurization.

Raw milk for human consumption is produced under strict food safety standards with rigorous testing, handling, and facility requirements. This milk is safe to drink directly from the bottle.

Raw milk for pasteurization is produced for commercial processing and is not intended to be consumed raw. This category has less stringent safety requirements because it will be heat-treated before consumption.

Raw milk is growing in popularity around the world for reasons related to nutrition, food security, local farming support, and fairness in the production of dairy products.

Many consumers believe raw milk offers nutritional benefits and better taste compared to pasteurized alternatives. Read more about the reasons people choose raw milk.

Use the raw milk finder to locate raw milk near you, explore the global raw milk map, or browse the raw milk directory.

There are filtered directories for raw cow milk, A2 raw cow milk, all raw milk with A2 protein, raw goat milk, raw sheep milk, raw donkey milk, raw buffalo milk, raw camel milk, raw milk butter, raw milk cheese, and raw milk kefir.

Discover farms certified by The Raw Milk Institute and follow raw milk producers on social media: Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

Raw milk legality varies by location. In the USA, raw milk sales are permitted or prohibited at the state level. Consuming raw milk is not illegal anywhere, but selling it is regulated differently in each state.

Some states welcome raw milk sales in grocery stores, usually in the natural food section. Other states require herdshare membership or specific licensing to distribute raw milk.

California allows raw milk widely in grocery stores. Kentucky requires a physician's note for raw goat milk. Florida permits raw milk sales through feed licensing. Australia restricts raw milk to cosmetic purposes. In England and much of Europe, raw milk is dispensed through vending machines.

Explore the complete Raw Milk Law Library and Map for your region.

More than 10 million people consume raw milk in the United States. Statistics show that per consumer, 1 in 14,250 raw milk consumers experience illness (0.007%), compared to 1 in 145 for leafy greens (0.69%). Hospital rates for raw milk are 1 in 500,000 (0.0002%). Learn how raw milk safety compares to other foods.

All food carries some risk, and raw milk is no exception. However, risk can be mitigated through proper handling. Commercial raw milk production requires clean facilities, quality equipment, and rigorous procedures.

Understand how raw milk recalls work and what safety protocols ensure producers maintain the highest standards.

To learn more about food safety, microbe testing, recommended equipment, and production best practices, consult The Raw Milk Institute in California.

GetRawMilk.com is a bootstrapped, community-driven platform designed to connect raw milk farmers and retailers with consumers worldwide. The mission is to make it easy to find locally-produced raw milk.

Each farm or retailer listing includes comprehensive information such as:

• Farm or retail location and map
• Delivery locations and radius
• Official website and social media
• Contact information and hours
• Raw milk availability and types
• Animal breeds and species
• Other products available
• Community reviews and ratings

GetRawMilk.com relies on user contributions to keep the database accurate and up-to-date. Your support helps maintain and grow the raw milk ecosystem.

View the Global Raw Milk Map

Help grow the raw milk community by sharing GetRawMilk.com with friends and family, adding a new farm or retailer to the map, and reporting any outdated information.

Leave a tip using Apple Pay, Google Pay, credit card, Bitcoin, or Ethereum to keep the project running.

Purchase GetRawMilk merchandise including shirts, cups, and hats to spread awareness.

Explore additional ways to support GetRawMilk.com.

Looking for restaurants that avoid seed oils? Check out LocalFats.com for a directory of seed oil free restaurants. You can search by cooking oil type including beef tallow, olive oil, pork lard, real butter, real ghee, duck fat, peanut oil, and coconut oil.