Got Raw Milk? West Virginia Doesn’t

West Virginia’s Governor Tomblin vetoed a bill on April 2nd that would have regulated the sale of raw milk, due to health concerns from the public.

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Governor Tomblin cited the bill itself, claiming the bacteria found in raw milk to be unsafe for children, pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems.

The bill, SB30, wasn’t actually allowing the retail sale of unpasteurized milk within stores, but rather allowing people to ?co-own? a milk-producing animal. W.V. law currently prohibits both sales and ?herd sharing,? so as it still stands, if you live in West Virginia and would prefer raw milk, you’re going to have to buy the cow, as you won’t be getting the milk for free… or at all, for that matter.

In 2002, the consumption of partially heated raw milk was the cause of illness for approximately 200 Americans, while raw milk supporters are claiming that the pasteurization or homogenization both damages nutrients in the milk, while also killing off the ?good bacteria? along with the bad.
Shortly after the veto of the bill, Governor Tomblin received a small amount of backlash regarding his decision.

Delegate Michael Ihle tweeted:

?Remains to be seen if cantaloupe, spinach, tomato gardens will be outlawed as far more have died from diseases they have spread.?

Senator Daniel Hall also expressed his disappointment.

At the end of the day, though, remember, there’s no use crying over spilled (or illegal) milk.