Raw Milk Restrictions

One of my fondest memories from childhood is of fresh raw milk being delivered right to our door by the wife of one of the local farmers in our small Kansas town. The thick layer of cream that was settled on top was the stuff culinary dreams are made of and sibling battles were waged over. My son has never had the pleasure of tasting anything other than store bought milk. With the government currently in a debate over whether dairy farmers will have the right to sell raw milk here in the U.S. he may never get the chance. Laws regarding the sale of raw milk vary from state to state, and heavy restrictions apply where its sale is legal. Pasteurization of milk started in the late 1800's and early 1900's during a time in history when dairy producers were not as knowledgeable and sanitation conscious as they are today and diseases such as typhoid were unchecked. It seems strange today that the sale of tobacco products, known to be life threatening and unsafe for humans, continues with a mere label warning. Instead of outlawing raw milk, slap a warning label on it if need be, and allow people the right to choose whether they drink their milk pasteurized or raw.