Amish farmer Amos Miller has been combating tooth and nail for the proper to promote uncooked milk, a nutrient-dense meals that has been consumed for millennia. Uncooked milk, which has not undergone pasteurization, retains its pure enzymes, probiotics and nutritional vitamins — parts which are important for intestine well being and immunity. It is because pasteurization, whereas designed to kill dangerous micro organism, additionally destroys useful vitamins, leaving a product that’s much less nourishing.1
The stakes for small-scale farmers like Miller are excessive. In keeping with federal regulation, promoting uncooked milk throughout state strains is prohibited as a consequence of security considerations, citing dangers of bacterial contamination from pathogens equivalent to E. coli and listeria. Regardless of this, Miller’s prospects consider within the well being advantages of uncooked milk. Apparently, the U.S. Meals and Drug Administration (FDA) acknowledges the proper of shoppers to purchase and transport uncooked milk throughout state strains for his or her private use.2
The federal government’s actions in opposition to Miller spotlight a troubling development. Regulatory businesses already raided his farm again in 2024, seizing merchandise value over $100,000 and imposing restrictions that threaten his livelihood. However purpose has prevailed, as a brand new ruling strengthened a earlier resolution permitting him to proceed promoting uncooked milk exterior Pennsylvania.
Court docket Determination Upholds Uncooked Milk Gross sales Throughout State Borders
A January 2025 ruling from the Commonwealth Court docket of Pennsylvania has introduced consideration to the continuing battle for meals freedom for shoppers. This resolution, which facilities on Amish farmers Amos and Rebecca Miller, permits them to promote their uncooked milk merchandise exterior the state whereas a lawsuit in opposition to them proceeds.
The case not solely addresses state rules but in addition raises constitutional questions on people’ rights to buy conventional meals immediately from producers.3
The Millers’ farm serves prospects by means of a personal membership mannequin, offering uncooked milk, grass fed beef and numerous produce. Nevertheless, it’s their uncooked milk that’s sought by health-conscious shoppers, which has additionally gained the ire of the federal government.
Regardless of the well being advantages, federal regulation prohibits uncooked milk gross sales throughout state strains, and in Pennsylvania, strict allowing processes restrict its sale throughout the state. The Millers have challenged these rules, arguing that their enterprise mannequin respects particular person freedoms and meets client demand for unprocessed meals.4
The Commonwealth Court docket of Pennsylvania simply upheld a March 2024 ruling that permitted the Millers to proceed promoting their uncooked milk exterior the state. This resolution is pivotal, because the state had initially sought to fully ban their gross sales.
Whereas a essential battle has been gained, the warfare isn’t over but. The Commonwealth Court docket additionally acknowledged the Millers raised “doubtlessly meritorious constitutional challenges,” together with these tied to the Commerce Clause and the proper to buy conventional meals immediately from producers. These factors will now be examined extra totally throughout a full trial due to the anomaly of the state regulation.5
Miller’s Case Is a ‘Huge Win’ for the Sustainable, Wholesome Meals
Amos Miller’s lawyer, Robert Barnes, emphasised the broader implications of this ruling for small-scale farmers, calling it “an enormous win for meals freedom” on his X account. He additionally acknowledged that this battle is about extra than simply about uncooked milk — it’s in regards to the particular person attending to determine what to eat and never what the federal government is pushing. In a press release for The Defender, Barnes mentioned:6
“Amos Miller, a fifth-generation Amish farmer from the center of dairy nation, produced tens of thousands and thousands of meals merchandise for tens of hundreds of People over 1 / 4 century, utilizing the very best and healthiest methods taught and educated by his father and his father earlier than him. How do we all know?
The overall variety of buyer complaints to any authorities company for any meals product of Amos Miller’s is an enormous fats zero, the very best recognized buyer satisfaction price of any farmer in America.
But the federal government sought to close him down and shut his farm as a result of they demanded 90% of uncooked milk merchandise be banned from sale to anybody anyplace. This win for Amos Miller is a win for all small farmers, for the Amish and for everybody who cares about meals freedom.”
The case additionally underscores a big rigidity between conventional farming practices and trendy regulatory frameworks. These actions usually goal uncooked milk producers who function beneath stricter requirements than large-scale agricultural companies.
Whereas regulators supposedly cite public well being considerations, these measures disproportionately burden small farms, successfully consolidating market energy amongst industrial producers For the Millers, complying with unreasonable state rules would severely restrict their product choices, making their enterprise mannequin unsustainable.7
Whereas regulators argue that uncooked milk poses public well being dangers as a consequence of potential bacterial contamination, advocates counter that conventional farming practices and client training scale back these dangers. Uncooked milk supporters usually cite its immune-boosting properties and advantages for digestion. Additionally they argue that pasteurization, whereas efficient at eliminating dangerous micro organism, additionally destroys useful vitamins, making uncooked milk a superior selection for a lot of of them.8
Biologically, uncooked milk comprises enzymes like lactase, which help in lactose digestion, in addition to probiotics, which help intestine well being. It additionally comprises immune-boosting proteins and nutritional vitamins. Pasteurization eliminates these parts, leaving a product that some people discover tougher to digest. For shoppers with particular well being considerations, these attributes make uncooked milk a lovely various.9
The constitutional questions raised within the case transcend meals security. The Commerce Clause, which governs interstate commerce, is central to the Millers’ argument. By prohibiting uncooked milk gross sales throughout state strains, federal rules limit client selection and create limitations for small farmers.
The Millers additionally invoked the proper to buy conventional meals, framing the difficulty as a matter of non-public freedom and cultural preservation. These arguments resonate with those that view meals freedom as an important facet of particular person rights.10
This new courtroom ruling units a precedent that may affect future instances involving uncooked milk and different conventional meals merchandise. It challenges the established order of regulatory oversight, emphasizing the significance of balancing public well being considerations with client rights and small farmers’ livelihoods.
The Crackdown on Amos Miller’s Farm Sparks Meals Freedom Debate
I initially wrote about Amos Miller’s authorized points again in February 2024. Working in Chicken-in-Hand, Pennsylvania, Miller adheres to conventional farming practices, providing unprocessed, nutrient-dense meals to his group.
Furthermore, it’s the place I initially highlighted the raid carried out by the Pennsylvania Division of Agriculture, throughout which $100,000 value of pure meals merchandise had been place “beneath detention.” This occasion has reignited discussions about meals freedom and the steadiness between client rights and authorities rules. For individuals who prioritize uncooked, pure merchandise, these actions signify an infringement on their private selection.
The raid focused Miller’s uncooked dairy merchandise like milk and eggnog, which allegedly precipitated E. coli diseases in Michigan and New York. Nevertheless, Miller’s supporters argue that these claims lack substantiated proof and spotlight the disproportionate scrutiny confronted by small-scale farmers in comparison with large-scale industrial producers.
I additionally identified that the raid violated established procedural norms. In keeping with Barnes, the Division of Agriculture failed to supply advance discover or comply with correct inspection protocols.
As a substitute, they acted “in a lawless method” by unlawfully acquiring a search warrant based mostly on what Barnes described as “materially false statements” from a high-ranking official with grievances in opposition to unbiased farmers. Once more, this blatant disregard for the rule of regulation has raised important considerations about authorities overreach and the unequal therapy of small farmers.
One of many extra hanging revelations is the financial disparity between small farmers and industrial producers. As reported by A Marketing campaign for Actual Milk , standard dairy farmers earn roughly $16 per 100 kilos of milk offered, which retains them simply above the poverty line.11
In distinction, farmers like Miller, who’re capable of immediately promote to shoppers, will probably be in a position maintain their operations and even thrive. This stark distinction exposes the monetary motivations behind unfair regulatory actions, which align with the pursuits of Huge Dairy.
I additionally mentioned the well being advantages of uncooked milk on this article. Its pure composition, which incorporates useful enzymes, probiotics and anti inflammatory properties type the majority of its therapeutic advantages. In actual fact, the Uncooked Milk Institute reported that it lowered charges of allergy symptoms, eczema, respiratory infections and fevers.12
The raid on Miller’s farm additionally brings consideration to the financial and political grip of centralized meals techniques on authorities businesses. By preserving conventional farming strategies, these operations provide a sustainable answer to the environmental degradation brought on by Huge Ag. Nevertheless, present rules usually hinder the flexibility of small-scale farmers to compete, thus limiting client entry to more healthy, extra sustainable meals choices.
I additionally concluded my evaluation by calling consideration to the broader societal impacts of such actions. The shakedown of small-scale farmers undermines native economies and erodes client belief in regulatory establishments. As Miller’s case progresses, it should set a precedent for a way conventional farming practices are handled within the context of recent rules. Regardless of the end result, it should present a glimpse into the way forward for meals freedom.
5 Methods to Help Meals Freedom and Defend Your Decisions
There are concrete steps out there to guard your proper to conventional, unprocessed, nutrient-dense meals like uncooked milk, whereas additionally empowering small, native farmers and strengthening group meals techniques. Listed here are my 5 suggestions:
1. Educate your self about native meals legal guidelines — Data is your strongest software to make knowledgeable decisions and advocate successfully for modifications the place wanted. Begin by understanding laws concerning promoting uncooked milk and different meals freedom legal guidelines in your state. Rules range broadly, with some states permitting uncooked milk gross sales immediately from farms, whereas others impose strict bans.
2. Help small, native farms — The place you spend your cash makes a distinction. Select to purchase immediately from native farmers who use conventional, sustainable strategies. Many small farms provide memberships or co-ops with entry to uncooked milk, grass fed meats and different complete meals. By doing this, you’re not solely bettering your food plan but in addition serving to small farms keep afloat within the face of restrictive rules.
3. Advocate for regulatory reforms — Make your voice heard. Attain out to your state legislators and categorical your help for insurance policies that enable direct-to-consumer gross sales of unprocessed meals.
Supporting initiatives just like the PRIME (Processing Revival and Intrastate Meat Exemption) Act, which goals to ease restrictions on small slaughterhouses, will assist pave the best way for broader meals freedom. Grassroots actions depend on people such as you to drive change.
4. Become involved in your group — Construct connections with like-minded people by becoming a member of meals advocacy teams or attending farm excursions and occasions. These networks usually share assets, updates on laws and methods to help native farmers. If there’s a rally or listening to for a farmer like Amos Miller in your space, attending exhibits your help and helps amplify a noble trigger.
5. Select high-quality, conventional meals — Prioritize your well being by incorporating nutrient-dense meals into your food plan. Search for uncooked dairy, grass fed meats and produce grown with out artificial chemical substances.
If uncooked milk is your selection, guarantee it comes from a good supply with rigorous cleanliness requirements. Doing this helps your physique with high-quality vitamin whereas backing farmers who prioritize sustainable and moral farming practices.
