Is Raw Milk Legal in Oklahoma

3. Prohibit a farmer or producer from making cheese from milk or cream produced on that farmer`s or producer`s holding. Only pasteurised milk of category A and milk products of category A may be sold to the final consumer; provided, however, that only pasteurized Class A milk is sold in restaurants, soda fountains, grocery stores or similar establishments, including school dining rooms. Category A refers to the digestibility or safety of milk and not to a level of quality. According to federal standards, all activities associated with the production, pasteurization and handling of Class A milk must be carried out under strict sanitary controls. The application of these hygiene controls is the responsibility of the State and local dairy hygiene officers. For large dairies that import milk from other countries, additional permits or documentation are required to bottle fluid milk, process or distribute dairy products. Companies wishing to import milk or dairy products must complete and submit the “Application for Authorization to Import Milk and Dairy Products” form, which can be downloaded from www.oda.state.ok.us/food/dsmilkimport.pdf. For more information about ancillary sales restrictions, contact ODAFF State Inspectors. No licence is required for the secondary sale of raw cow`s milk on the farm, but farmers who make more than a certain number of by-sales must hold a dairy farm licence (see Figure 1). In addition, farmers cannot publicly advertise the sale of raw cow`s milk. As of April 2016, the sale of raw milk in stores in 13 states is legal.

17 states allow the sale of raw milk only on farms; 8 of the states that prohibit the sale allow the purchase of raw milk only through cow-sharing agreements; and 20 other states prohibit the sale of raw milk. The rules for raw goat`s milk are different from those for raw cow`s milk. As of Nov. 1, 2014, raw goat`s milk can be sold for up to 100 gallons per month on the farm without a permit in Oklahoma. Unlike raw cow`s milk, farmers who sell raw goat`s milk on the farm are allowed to advertise legally. Only licensed and inspected businesses are authorized to transport, process or distribute raw milk in Oklahoma. Under the Oklahoma Milk and Milk Products Act: Under U.S. federal regulations (21 CFR § 1240.61), “No person shall cause it to be delivered to state commerce or, after shipment in interstate commerce, sell, distribute or hold for sale or otherwise distribute milk or dairy products in end-of-line packaging form for direct human consumption, Unless: the product has been pasteurized. Individual raw milk may not exceed 750,000 per ml.

The term class A is often referred to as “fluid milk” while “class B” is often referred to as “production class” milk. Pasteurized Grade A milk is authorised for sale as fluid milk to the consumer through retail and catering establishments and is also used in the processing of dairy products. Conversely, category B milk is only authorised for the processing of dairy products such as butter, cheese and other finished products. It is important to note that the accessory subsection exemption applies only to raw milk, not to dairy products made from raw milk. In addition, a raw milk permit is only valid for the sale of raw milk, not for other raw milk products. Producers wishing to sell raw milk dairy products must obtain a dairy licence (Figure 1), which is described later in this factsheet. 20. “Unsorted dairy products” and “manufacture of quality dairy products” include, but are not limited to, butter, cheese, milk powder, condensed milk, stuffed or condensed milk, frozen milk desserts and Mello beverages. Milk is often considered cow`s milk, but the definition of milk in the Class “A” Pasteurization Milk Ordinance (OEP) is not as restrictive.

Specifically, CMP defines “caterpillar mammalian milk” as the normal secretion of milk that is virtually free of colostrum and obtained through the complete milking of one or more healthy hoofed mammals. Caterpillar mammals in the PMO include, but are not limited to: In Oklahoma, the categories and standards for dairy products follow those of federal law. Oversight of state dairy farm inspection and dairy food safety, as established by Oklahoma`s dairy law, falls under the jurisdiction of ODAFF`s Food Safety Division, Dairy Products Section. Specific food safety requirements for Oklahoma dairy and dairy farmers are found in Title 35 (ODAFF), Chapter 37 (Food Security), Subchapter 13 (Milk and Dairy Products), also known as the Oklahoma Milk and Dairy Products Act. Because of the potential health risks associated with raw milk, the retail sale of raw milk is illegal in most states, including Oklahoma. However, raw milk can be sold through random sales in Oklahoma. Ancillary sales are the sale of raw milk on the farm directly to consumers. Under the Oklahoma Milk and Milk Products Act: No person shall produce, transport, process or distribute raw Class A milk for pasteurization or milk and dairy products, impersonate a producer, transporter, processor or distributor of milk, or represent a dairy farm, milk truck/collector, or a tanker truck driver, a milk transport company. Distribution centre for tankers or milk or dairy products of “Class A”, unless this person has an appropriate and valid authorization for the premises or installations concerned. Several myths have circulated about raw milk and pasteurized milk. The FDA has published a publication addressing these myths and providing facts about raw and pasteurized milk (FDA, 2012).

Some of the facts are: Drinking or otherwise consuming raw milk is legal in all 50 states. With the exception of Michigan, no state specifically prohibits the sale of raw milk for animal feed. 2. exclude advertising for the accidental sale of goat`s milk; and The conditions and requirements for fluid milk and milk for processing also differ. Liquid milk from a cow intended to be bottled and sold for consumption must meet Grade A standards. Milk for dairy processing does not have to meet Grade A standards, but there are provisions for acceptable quality limits. These differences are explained in more detail later in this fact sheet. Dairy products such as fluid milk, butter and cheese are major staples in the majority of the United States.