Is Raw Milk Cheese Really Illegal in the United States?
Many American consumers have lamented their inability to obtain traditionally produced raw milk cheeses made with unpasteurized milks. Unpasteurized cheeses are severely restricted in the United States, with different states having varying regulations about the sale and consumption of raw dairy products. Many culinary guerrillas have smuggled raw milk cheeses into the United States, and cooks with connections can sometimes obtain unpasteurized cheeses, for a price.
Many American consumers have lamented their inability to obtain traditionally produced raw milk cheeses made with unpasteurized milks. Unpasteurized cheeses are severely restricted in the United States, with different states having varying regulations about the sale and consumption of raw dairy products. Many culinary guerrillas have smuggled raw milk cheeses into the United States, and cooks with connections can sometimes obtain unpasteurized cheeses, for a price. The United States Food and Drug Administration governs the consumption of raw milk products, in concert with the United States Department of Agriculture. According to federal law, raw milk cannot be transported across state lines with the intent of human consumption. Unpasteurized cheeses are actually legal, as long as they have been aged at least 60 days in an environment held at 35 degrees Fahrenheit (1 degree Celsius). During the aging process, the cheese becomes more acidic, killing most potential sources of bacterial in
