The regulatory and political landscape surrounding raw milk has shifted dramatically as consumption surges nationwide, bringing increased public scrutiny to the commercial practices of America’s largest unpasteurized dairy producer. According to federal and state health data, national interest in unpasteurized dairy has grown significantly, even as public health authorities maintain that raw products carry a markedly higher risk of foodborne illness than pasteurized alternatives.
Mark McAfee, who operates Raw Farm in Fresno, California, has spent over two decades advocating for unpasteurized dairy products. Amid changing federal health priorities under the Department of Health and Human Services, McAfee’s commercial operations and public statements have become central to a broader national debate over food safety regulations, scientific consensus, and consumer choice.
Industry figures show that more than 10 million Americans now consume raw dairy products, with national weekly sales jumping 65% between 2023 and 2024. McAfee’s enterprise generates approximately $30 million in annual revenue, positioning the Fresno farm at the center of both the commercial raw-milk boom and regulatory friction with state and federal authorities.
Scientific Consensus Versus Consumer Advocacy
Public health agencies, including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), state that raw milk has no proven nutritional benefits over pasteurized milk and exposes consumers to over 100 times the risk of foodborne illness. Pasteurization, the standard process of heating milk to destroy harmful pathogens, was widely adopted a century ago to curb deadly infant mortality and widespread milkborne infections.
Despite this established scientific consensus, McAfee argues that his supporters view unpasteurized dairy through a different lens. “I’m begging you to say: ‘This is not anti-science, this is extremely pro-science. … It’s using science that is not conveniently accepted yet,’” McAfee stated during recent media interactions. He contends that consumer experiences and personal health transformations serve as valid empirical evidence that traditional institutions overlook.
Mainstream scientific reviews continue to caution that unpasteurized dairy inherently harbors dangerous bacteria such as E. coli and salmonella. Health experts emphasize that strict sanitation practices on farms cannot completely eliminate the risk of pathogen contamination in raw milk products.
Historical Outbreaks and Regulatory Scrutiny
Federal and state records indicate that Raw Farm products have been linked to multiple foodborne illness outbreaks over the past two decades. Since 2006, regulators have connected at least eight outbreaks to the Fresno dairy, resulting in over 230 reported illnesses and at least 40 hospitalizations. Public health officials note that these figures likely represent an undercount because many individuals recover at home without seeking formal medical testing.
Among the most severe documented cases involved a 2006 E. coli outbreak that sickened six people, including a 7-year-old boy named Chris Martin. Martin contracted a dangerous strain of E. coli known as O157:H7, which caused permanent kidney damage requiring lifelong medical management. Reflecting on the incident and subsequent recalls, McAfee acknowledged the severe impact on consumers while framing his work as pioneering: “I’ve put a couple kids in the hospital, and they have been sick, but they recovered. … But here’s the thing: I’m a pioneer. And I’m going against the grain here. I’m climbing a mountain they say you can’t climb.”
Subsequent outbreaks and product recalls occurred in 2007, 2011, 2012, and 2016. Between 2023 and 2024, regulators tied the farm to a major salmonella outbreak that affected more than 170 people. McAfee has frequently disputed direct causal links between his farm and these outbreaks, arguing that regulatory tracking methods do not constitute definitive proof of contamination origin.
Cheesemaking Practices and Legal Disputes
Regulatory documents and court filings detail friction between federal authorities and Raw Farm regarding cheesemaking protocols. In 2024, FDA investigators discovered that the dairy maintained a practice of utilizing milk suspected or known to contain pathogens for cheese production, under the assumption that the aging process would neutralize bacterial risks.
Food safety scientists point out that raw-milk cheese is not immune to pathogens, and harmful bacteria can survive standard 60-day maturation periods. Addressing his internal operations, McAfee explained the facility’s sorting procedures: “We have a red-flag system here, where if there’s anything that gets really out of whack, they can immediately tag the milk, and it doesn’t go to anything but cheese. … Because, you know, cheese is resistant to pathogens.”
Court cases initiated by the federal government to halt the utilization of questionable milk in cheese production experienced delays due to judicial backlogs. By early 2025, shifting political priorities at federal health agencies led to the dismissal of enforcement actions against the dairy. Representatives for the U.S. Department of Justice stated that federal authorities remain committed to protecting public health, while representatives for the Department of Health and Human Services did not respond to requests for comment regarding the policy shift.
Market Growth and Continued Controversy
Despite regulatory investigations and recurring health warnings, Raw Farm has experienced record sales, buoyed by social media influencers and shifting consumer skepticism toward federal food guidance. Commenting on the relationship between institutional oversight and consumer trust, McAfee noted: “Our sales are highest they’ve ever been, and feedback online with influencers is: If the FDA says something, do the opposite. It’s safer. They don’t trust them at all.”
Reflecting on his broader strategy against regulatory opposition, McAfee invoked military philosophy: “They have the guns and the money. I got the truth and the moms.”
State and federal health officials continue to monitor unpasteurized dairy production facilities across the country. Consumers seeking official safety advisories, recall notices, or updates on ongoing investigations can consult public health bulletins issued by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and state agricultural departments.