Alberta Rural Leaders Challenge Raw Milk Ban
During Wednesday's Rural Municipalities of Alberta conference in Edmonton, municipal leaders made a bold move to address what they call the 'milk black market' operating across the province. Representatives from small towns and counties voted overwhelmingly to support legalizing the sale of raw dairy products under regulated conditions.
The Underground Dairy Economy
Despite facing fines of up to $25,000 under Alberta's Dairy Industry Act, an underground trade in unpasteurized milk continues to thrive through word-of-mouth networks. Sturgeon County Councillor Matthew McLennan described the situation as 'an incredible amount of black farm activity, which is an unsafe way to do it.'
The resolution, brought forward by the Municipal District of Greenview, passed with two-thirds support from the rural municipalities present. This mandates the RMA to lobby the federal government to amend food regulations and create a legal framework for raw milk sales.
Safety Concerns vs. Consumer Choice
Medical evidence strongly cautions against raw milk consumption. A Brown University review found that while only 3.2% of Americans consumed raw milk in 2017, it accounted for 96% of all dairy-related food illnesses. The unpasteurized products carry significant bacterial risks that pasteurization eliminates.
However, Greenview Reeve Ryan Ratzlaff argued that 'our small family producers want an option' and modern safety practices could mitigate risks. The motion cited international examples, including parts of the European Union, where raw milk sales are permitted under strict protocols involving producer registration, temperature controls, and regular testing.
Councillor McLennan summarized the position of many rural leaders: 'Time to bring it out into the light, to get some proper training and some oversight.' The debate now moves to federal policymakers who must balance food safety concerns with demands for agricultural freedom and consumer choice.
