Mark McAfee, founder and CEO of Raw Farm in California's Central Valley, operates the largest raw milk dairy in the United States, generating approximately $30 million annually. Federal and state regulators have linked his business to more than two dozen recalls and outbreaks that left hundreds of people ill with foodborne illness including salmonella and E. coli, according to ProPublica reporting. The company has also faced scrutiny after bird flu was discovered in its milk supply.

Raw milk—milk that has not been pasteurized—is subject to different regulatory frameworks at the federal and state levels. The FDA prohibits interstate raw milk sales, while some states allow it under various conditions. California, where Raw Farm is located, permits raw milk sales with testing requirements. McAfee told ProPublica he screens each batch for salmonella, E. coli, campylobacter, and listeria—bacteria that can contaminate milk through microscopic fecal matter from infected cattle.

What the Left Is Saying

Democratic lawmakers and public health advocates have called for stricter oversight of raw milk producers following multiple linked outbreaks. Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts said in a statement obtained by reporters: "When companies repeatedly appear on recall lists and are connected to hundreds of illnesses, regulators must act decisively to protect consumers, especially children who face the greatest risk from foodborne pathogens."

The American Academy of Pediatrics has maintained its position that raw milk poses significant health risks with no proven nutritional benefits over pasteurized alternatives. The organization cites Centers for Disease Control data showing raw milk consumption carries more than 100 times the risk of foodborne illness compared to pasteurized milk. Former FDA officials who served under the Biden administration said they were preparing a crackdown on Raw Farm before the change in presidential administrations shifted leadership at health agencies.

Progressive advocacy groups have also pointed to what they describe as regulatory capture concerns, noting that Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a longtime raw milk consumer and proponent, now oversees the department responsible for food safety oversight. "The fox cannot guard the henhouse," said Consumer Reports food safety director Brian Ronholm in a statement. "When industry advocates hold positions of regulatory authority over their own suppliers, public health suffers."

What the Right Is Saying

Conservative lawmakers and libertarian-leaning groups have defended raw milk as a matter of personal liberty and agricultural freedom. Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky said at a Senate hearing: "I don't think the federal government should be telling Americans what they can eat or drink in this context. Adults should be able to make informed choices about what they consume."

The movement has been embraced by supporters of the Make America Healthy Again agenda, which argues that industrial food processing removes nutritional benefits from consumable products. Raw milk proponents contend that pasteurization destroys beneficial enzymes and bacteria while eliminating potential health advantages. "Americans are entitled to access traditional foods their grandparents consumed," said Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky in a social media post. "This is about freedom, not just dairy."

McAfee himself has characterized his operation as serving customers who distrust large-scale industrial agriculture. "They think we're some kind of a fringe, weird trend, and we are dead serious here," McAfee said during a farm visit with reporters. "I'm a pioneer. And I'm going against the grain here." He acknowledged that children have been hospitalized due to illnesses linked to his products but said they recovered, arguing that responsible testing protocols minimize risks.

What the Numbers Show

Raw milk consumption has grown substantially in recent years. More than 10 million Americans now drink raw milk, according to industry and federal estimates. National weekly sales rose by approximately 65% from 2023 to 2024 alone, based on Nielsen data cited by ProPublica. Raw Farm's annual revenue stands at roughly $30 million, making it the largest operation of its kind in the country.

Federal records show that regulators have documented more than two dozen separate recalls or outbreak investigations linked to Raw Farm products over approximately two decades. Hundreds of individuals were sickened across these incidents, though precise totals vary depending on which outbreaks are included in accounting. The CDC estimates that raw milk consumption causes approximately 1,000 illnesses annually nationwide, with children under age 5 facing the highest hospitalization rates.

Pasteurization became standard practice in the United States roughly a century ago after thousands of infants died annually from contaminated dairy products. Public health data indicates foodborne illness from all sources sickens approximately 48 million Americans yearly, hospitalizes 128,000, and kills 3,000 according to CDC figures. Raw milk represents a small fraction of total dairy consumption but carries disproportionate risk per serving, according to agency assessments.

The Bottom Line

The raw milk debate illustrates broader tensions between regulatory oversight and consumer choice in the food system. McAfee has faced repeated enforcement actions from FDA and DOJ over approximately two decades without receiving serious sanctions that would halt operations, a pattern critics cite as regulatory failure and supporters frame as government overreach against lawful business.

Health agencies under the Trump administration have signaled different priorities regarding raw milk compared to predecessors. Kennedy, before his confirmation as HHS Secretary, used his presidential campaign platform to criticize what he called aggressive suppression of raw milk by federal regulators. He celebrated a White House event with raw milk shooters following a MAHA report release, signaling potential policy shifts.

What happens next will likely depend on whether additional outbreaks occur and how state agencies in California respond to ongoing concerns. Consumer demand continues rising despite documented health risks, leaving regulators to balance public safety mandates against political pressure from both wellness movements and personal liberty advocates. Watch for any CDC outbreak reports linked to Raw Farm products and whether California's Department of Food and Agriculture modifies its testing requirements or licensing conditions for the operation.