California Raw Milk Laws & Regulations

California authorizes retail and on-farm raw milk sales under California Food and Agricultural Code §35781 et seq. and Grade A raw milk regulations administered by the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA). Licensed producers must meet stringent Grade A standards including routine bacterial count and somatic cell count testing, herd health programs, sanitation requirements, and mandatory labeling with prescribed consumer advisory statements. California's raw milk regulatory framework requires continuous testing and compliance and is administered with active CDFA oversight. California permits licensed raw milk to be distributed through licensed retail establishments, including grocery chains, health food stores, and food cooperatives throughout the state.

California has the largest licensed raw milk market in the United States, driven by its large population, active natural food culture, and the presence of major licensed producers including Raw Farm (formerly Organic Pastures), the largest raw milk producer in the country. Licensed raw milk is available in hundreds of retail outlets across the Bay Area, Los Angeles, San Diego, Sacramento, and throughout the state. Raw milk has been central to several high-profile regulatory events in California: in early 2026, Raw Farm faced federal E. coli allegations related to raw cheddar cheese, issued a voluntary recall, and subsequently had all tests return negative, with the recall officially closed by May 2026. The episode illustrated the intense federal regulatory scrutiny applied to California's raw milk sector and the contested evidentiary standards around outbreak attribution.