A bill introduced in the Iowa House of Representatives would legalize raw milk sales at farmers markets and grocery stores.

House Study Bill 222 would allow the sale of raw milk and raw milk products to be sold at farmers markets and grocery stores. Will continue to monitor and share at this bill progresses.

It’s happening folks, people are realizing that raw is law! pic.twitter.com/2afdKRGQIQ

— The Regenaissance (@_Regenaissance) April 23, 2025

“State Representative Bobby Kaufmann says unpasteurized raw milk sales have been allowed on dairy farms in the state since 2023,” Brownfield Ag News reports.

“He says the House bill would expand sales to other sites,” it added.

Raw milk sold in grocery stores? An Iowa House bill would make it legal https://t.co/dRoGWbcmeE

— Des Moines Register (@DMRegister) April 23, 2025

“I believe that people should have the opportunity to consume this should they choose,” Kaufmann said, according to the outlet.

Kaufmann added that he doesn’t need the government to tell him “what is and is not safe.”

“We are perfectly capable of making that decision on our own,” he added.

More from Brownfield Ag News:

But some farmers are hesitant about the legislation. Abby Costello raises dairy cows and sells raw milk, butter and cheese from a small store in Linn County.

“I’m 100% for raw milk, but I’m undecided about the changes that are being proposed,” she said. “When you throw in a grocery store in the middle, growth of bacteria and different things could expand and potentially make a consumer sick and then who’s responsible? The farmer or the middle man?”

Butler County farmer Robert Horst, president of the Iowa State Dairy Association, says there should be some safety standards in place for raw milk to help protect consumers from food-borne illnesses.

Raw milk bill clears Iowa House subcommittee https://t.co/p213gw1Uc2 @brownfield #agnews

— Brent Barnett🎙 (@BRNAgNews_Brent) April 23, 2025

Bill would expand raw milk sales to Iowa grocery aisle, farmers markets https://t.co/30RGe61Uze

— The Gazette (@gazettedotcom) April 23, 2025

Per The Gazette:

Iowa joined dozens of other states in 2023 in allowing small producers to sell unpasteurized milk. Dairy farms in Iowa can sell raw milk and related products directly to consumers from their farms. Raw milk farmers can have up to 10 milking animals and must conduct monthly bacterial tests on their dairy animals to determine coliform counts and standard plate counts.

Each animal must be examined by a veterinarian annually, including blood tests. The raw milk must be stored at 45°F or lower and distributed within seven days of production. And containers must have labels saying contents were not subject to state inspections or public health regulations.

Under the current law, raw milk can be sold only directly from raw milk dairies to consumers, and not in retail settings like restaurants, stores or farmers markets.

House Study Bill 222 would remove those restrictions, allowing raw milk and related products to be sold at grocery stores or at the farmers market stand. The bill would require a container holding raw milk or a raw milk product be sanitized.