Raw Milk War: A California Dairy, Outbreaks, and the Regulatory Tug-of-War

ProPublica investigates Raw Farm, the nation’s largest raw-milk dairy, whose unpasteurized milk and cheeses have been tied to more than 230 illnesses across eight outbreaks since 2006, with dozens of hospitalizations. Regulators have repeatedly sanctioned the operation, but enforcement has waxed and waned amid recalls, lawsuits and political shifts, including changes at the Health and Human Services leadership that slowed action. The piece follows affected families, the farm’s controversial practices (including diverting tainted milk into cheese) and Mark McAfee’s defiant stance as raw-milk advocates push for broader access, highlighting the clash between public health safeguards and consumer choice.