Why does Ron Paul think it is a good idea to allow raw milk to be sold to consumers?

[leland]

He's against public health in general. He opposed vaccination too.

He might be true to his beliefs, but those don't work in the modern world. The government actually has a vital role to play in preventing disease. There's a reason Ron Paul is widely regarded as crazy.

Edit:
"except that it is illegal to transport it across state lines for god knows what reason"
Because there are quite regular outbreaks of dangerous diseases from raw milk. It's probably the single most dangerous product consumed.

Edit:
"How about the new resurgence of TB and other diseases we got rid of."
Oh, the irony. A large percentage of TB cases ARE caused by raw milk. Mycobacterium bovis can cause TB and cows carry it.

Edit:
"Where do you fascists on the left get the authority to BAN raw milk from being sold?"
The part where people have to power to limit the spread of infectious diseases. Same reason rotten meat cannot be sold and health agencies have the power to quarantine.
Infectious diseases are not just your problem. They are infectious. Your rights end with another person.

Edit:
"Cheese should be made with raw milk. "
That's nowhere near as bad. The process of making cheese kills almost all the dangerous bacteria. Really, only Listeria remains. This sort of cheese should be kept away from children and have warming labels for pregnant women. Listeria kills the unborn.

Edit:
"Weis The amount of critical sickness caused by raw milk consumed by people who specifically ask for it is so low that you have no case. And I'm Henry the VIII so I outrank you."
Wrong. Given the few people who do drink raw milk, it causes a disproportionate amount of illness.
I work on a pathogen you can get from it. I'm familiar with the regular outbreaks. I'm dead serious when I say it is certainly the single most dangerous foodstuff. People have gotten HUS from it.

[aenedleah10]

Usually its ok but it only takes once to kill you.

[westbroc90]

except that it is illegal to transport it across state lines for god knows what reason. Maybe it is dangerous like .0001% of the time but thats what freedom is all about - taking risks. Why should the government being telling us what we can eat. How ridiculous

[hewlett]

Very few farms have certification to sell raw milk products. I live in farm country and the nearest place I can get raw milk -- besides my own cow -- is about an hour's drive, and I have to go to to the farm. Yes we have the right to drink it, but most people have no way to obtain it.

[jabarl]

What if people really want to buy raw milk?

Where do you fascists on the left get the authority to BAN raw milk from being sold?

I expect you to type out in great detail the origin of this power...

[jomei69]

He is just a crazy old man .

[ludano17]

Because not every consumer has access to raw milk.

[rolfe16]

I want raw milk. Sounds delish.


Ron Paul, 2012.