North Carolina's Raw Milk Rebellion: Consumer Demand Forces a Legislative U-Turn
How Grassroots Food Freedom Advocates Transformed an Attempted Ban into a Pathway for Farmer Prosperity
What You'll Learn
How NC lawmakers tried to ban raw milk access and why they rapidly reversed course
The critical details of competing raw milk legislation in North Carolina
Why food sovereignty has become a bipartisan political force
How small dairy farmers could benefit from expanded raw milk access
What consumer protections are included in proposed raw milk regulations
Something extraordinary happened in North Carolina's state legislature earlier this month.
A proposed ban on raw milk that seemed destined for easy passage was dramatically reversed within a single week after an overwhelming show of grassroots opposition that crossed traditional political lines. What began as a routine provision in an agricultural omnibus bill transformed into a political awakening that has shaken the establishment and revealed the growing power of the food sovereignty movement.
This isn't just another policy dispute – it's a full-blown rebellion against the industrial food system.
The Ban That Backfired
On May 1, 2025, North Carolina's Senate Agriculture Committee quietly approved Senate Bill 639 (the annual Farm Act) with a provision that would eliminate the state's legal "herdshare" agreements – the only lawful pathway for consumers to obtain raw milk in the state.
Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler requested the ban, citing concerns about the emerging risk of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) potentially spreading to dairy cows. "We've been playing Russian Roulette with one bullet in the chamber, with these other pathogens. But when you add [bird flu] into the mix, we put two more bullets into that chamber," Troxler warned.
The ban seemed headed for swift approval. Then the phones started ringing.
The People's Revolt
By May 6, approximately 100 raw milk advocates had packed the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing. Senator Brent Jackson (R-Sampson) revealed he had received "thousands of emails, text messages, and phone calls" opposing the ban.
This wasn't a manufactured corporate lobbying campaign – this was authentic consumer outrage.
The committee, witnessing this unprecedented display of public opposition, unanimously voted to reverse course. Instead of eliminating herdshares, they amended the bill to:
Preserve existing herdshare agreements established under the 2018 Farm Act
Close the "pet milk" loophole (sales labeled for animal consumption)
Direct a comprehensive study on potential regulated retail sales
"This is trying to appease the thousands of emails I've had," Senator Jackson explained during the committee meeting. "Sometimes you don't know what's out there until you file a bill."
Food Sovereignty Crosses Party Lines
What made this reversal particularly remarkable was its bipartisan nature. Democratic Senator Sophia Chitlik (Durham) joined Republican colleagues in championing consumer choice during committee debates.
"We regulate and sell things like raw oysters, tobacco, alcohol, which are far more dangerous than raw milk," noted Senator Chitlik.
The cross-aisle cooperation extended to public demonstrations, where advocates from across the political spectrum united under "medical freedom" and "local food" banners outside legislative chambers.
This food sovereignty coalition defies traditional political categorization, uniting rural conservatives, progressive localists, and health-conscious skeptics around a common cause.
The Alternative: House Bill 609
While the Senate scrambled to undo its raw milk ban, the House was moving in the opposite direction. House Bill 609, introduced on March 31 with bipartisan sponsorship led by Representatives Winslow, Riddell, Adams, and McNeely, proposes a comprehensive framework for legal raw milk sales.
This legislation would create a regulatory pathway administered by the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (DACS) with strict requirements for producers, including:
Farm compliance inspections for Grade "A" milk standards (except for pasteurization)
Confirmation that dairy animals are free from tuberculosis and brucellosis
Systematic milk sampling and testing protocols
Clear labeling requirements warning of potential risks
Sales restricted to farms of origin or farm stands within 100 miles
Representative Winslow defended the bill, stating: "NC HB 609 gives small dairy farmers a fighting chance. Right now, they're forced to waste valuable milk every day while consumers are denied the freedom to choose a natural product they trust."
Why This Matters for Small Farmers
For struggling dairy farmers, raw milk sales represent a potential economic lifeline. As conventional milk prices remain volatile and small dairies continue to close, direct-to-consumer raw milk sales offer a premium-priced alternative business model.
Raw milk typically commands $9-$15 per gallon compared to about $0.85 per gallon for conventional milk sold into the commodity system. This allows small-scale producers to potentially remain viable despite having fewer animals.
The Barringer family farm in North Carolina supports 80 families through their herd-share program, which also boosts sales of other farm products like eggs and produce.
The raw milk economy creates the direct farmer-consumer relationship that industrial agriculture has systematically destroyed.
The Public Health Debate
Agricultural officials and conventional dairy organizations strongly oppose raw milk sales, citing significant public health risks:
"Raw milk is a significant public health risk as there is absolutely no way to ensure the safety of raw milk," stated Commissioner Troxler. "Even with our best efforts and diligent work, foodborne illnesses, stillbirths, and miscarriages will occur in North Carolina if we allow the retail sales of raw milk."
The CDC links raw milk to 840 times more illnesses than pasteurized products and warns that it can contain harmful bacteria including Salmonella, E. coli, and Listeria.
Raw milk advocates counter that testing protocols can minimize risks. They point out that other potentially risky products remain legal and that North Carolina has no reported illness outbreaks linked to herdshare operations since their legalization in 2018.
North Carolina Joins a National Movement
North Carolina's raw milk debate reflects a broader national trend. According to recent data, 46 states now allow the sale or distribution of raw milk in some form, with only Hawaii, Louisiana, Nevada, and Rhode Island maintaining complete prohibitions.
In the past few years alone:
Iowa legalized direct farm-to-consumer sales (2023)
North Dakota legalized unregulated direct-to-consumer sales (2023)
Idaho removed limits on herdshare herd sizes
West Virginia and Delaware enacted new raw milk legislation in 2024
The appointment of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as Secretary of Health and Human Services in 2025 has added new dimensions to the debate, as Kennedy has been a vocal advocate for raw milk access.
What Happens Next?
The Senate Judiciary Committee's reversal on May 6 demonstrates the growing political influence of food sovereignty movements while maintaining regulatory pathways to address public health concerns through ongoing study.
If both bills advance, North Carolina could see a dramatic shift from nearly banning raw milk to creating a comprehensive framework for expanded access. The outcome will likely shape the state's approach to food regulation for years to come.
As these bills progress through the legislature, one thing is clear: food freedom is becoming a powerful political force that defies traditional partisan divisions.
The Real Reason This Matters
Beyond the legislative details, this raw milk rebellion represents something far more significant – a direct challenge to the consolidated food system that has steadily eroded consumer choice and farmer autonomy.
When hundreds of citizens are willing to physically show up at a legislative hearing over raw milk access, it signals a deeper discontent with the status quo. People are no longer content to let distant bureaucrats and corporate interests dictate what they can eat or how farmers can produce it.
As Representative Winslow noted while defending House Bill 609, small dairy farmers need "a fighting chance." In a system dominated by industrial-scale operations, creating space for direct producer-to-consumer relationships isn't just about milk – it's about rebuilding community food resilience.
Whether raw milk ultimately becomes more widely available in North Carolina or not, the grassroots response to the proposed ban has already accomplished something remarkable. It has demonstrated that when enough people unite around food sovereignty, even the most entrenched regulatory structures can be forced to listen.
The Regenaissance isn't just a movement – it's becoming a political force.
FAQs About Raw Milk in North Carolina
Q: Is raw milk currently legal in North Carolina?
A: Raw milk can legally be obtained through "herdshare" agreements, where consumers purchase partial ownership of a dairy animal and receive a portion of the milk it produces. Direct retail sales remain prohibited.
Q: What is a "herdshare" agreement?
A: A herdshare is a legal arrangement where consumers purchase partial ownership of a cow, goat, or other lactating animal and receive milk from that animal in proportion to their ownership share.
Q: What is the "pet milk" loophole that legislators want to close?
A: Currently, raw milk can be legally sold as animal feed if clearly labeled "NOT FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION." Officials acknowledge many people purchasing this product actually consume it themselves, describing it as a "wink-wink" situation.
Q: If passed, when would House Bill 609 take effect?
A: The new regulations would take effect on January 1, 2026, giving farmers and regulators time to prepare for implementation.
Q: What testing is required under the proposed regulations?
A: Licensed producers would need to test for bacteria, coliform, somatic cell count, and pathogens including Salmonella, Listeria, and E. coli O157:H7 on a regular schedule, with specific maximum allowable levels for each.
About the Author: Ryan Griggs is the founder of The Regenaissance, a movement dedicated to rebuilding food sovereignty through regenerative agriculture, ancestral wisdom, and radical truth-telling.