by Dr. Joseph Mercola, Mercola:
Story at-a-glance
- Amish farmer Amos Miller successfully defended his right to sell raw milk outside Pennsylvania, highlighting the broader battle for food freedom
- Previously, regulatory agencies raided Miller’s farm, detaining $100,000 worth of whole natural foods, threatening his livelihood
- Research shows that raw milk is a nutrient-dense food offering probiotics and enzymes that support digestion and immunity, which are lost in pasteurization
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- Strict regulations on small farmers often favor large-scale industrial producers, leaving traditional farms at a significant economic disadvantage
- Supporting local farms and advocating for food freedom reforms empower consumers, giving them access healthier, unprocessed foods directly from trusted sources
Amish farmer Amos Miller has been fighting tooth and nail for the right to sell raw milk, a nutrient-dense food that has been consumed for millennia. Raw milk, which has not undergone pasteurization, retains its natural enzymes, probiotics and vitamins — components that are essential for gut health and immunity. This is because pasteurization, while designed to kill harmful bacteria, also destroys beneficial nutrients, leaving a product that is less nourishing.1
The stakes for small-scale farmers like Miller are high. According to federal law, selling raw milk across state lines is prohibited due to safety concerns, citing risks of bacterial contamination from pathogens such as E. coli and listeria. Despite this, Miller’s customers believe in the health benefits of raw milk. Interestingly, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recognizes the right of consumers to buy and transport raw milk across state lines for their personal use.2
The government’s actions against Miller highlight a troubling trend. Regulatory agencies already raided his farm back in 2024, seizing products worth over $100,000 and imposing restrictions that threaten his livelihood. But reason has prevailed, as a new ruling reinforced a previous decision allowing him to continue selling raw milk outside Pennsylvania.
Court Decision Upholds Raw Milk Sales Across State Borders
A January 2025 ruling from the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania has brought attention to the ongoing battle for food freedom for consumers. This decision, which centers on Amish farmers Amos and Rebecca Miller, allows them to sell their raw milk products outside the state while a lawsuit against them proceeds.
The case not only addresses state regulations but also raises constitutional questions about individuals’ rights to purchase traditional foods directly from producers.3
The Millers’ farm serves customers through a private membership model, providing raw milk, grass fed beef and various produce. However, it’s their raw milk that is sought by health-conscious consumers, which has also gained the ire of the government.
Despite the health benefits, federal law prohibits raw milk sales across state lines, and in Pennsylvania, strict permitting processes limit its sale within the state. The Millers have challenged these regulations, arguing that their business model respects individual freedoms and meets consumer demand for unprocessed foods.4
The Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania just upheld a March 2024 ruling that permitted the Millers to continue selling their raw milk outside the state. This decision is pivotal, as the state had initially sought to completely ban their sales.
While a important battle has been won, the war isn’t over yet. The Commonwealth Court also acknowledged the Millers raised “potentially meritorious constitutional challenges,” including those tied to the Commerce Clause and the right to purchase traditional foods directly from producers. These points will now be examined more thoroughly during a full trial because of the ambiguity of the state law.5
Miller’s Case Is a ‘Big Win’ for the Sustainable, Healthy Food
Amos Miller’s attorney, Robert Barnes, emphasized the broader implications of this ruling for small-scale farmers, calling it “a big win for food freedom” on his X account. He also stated that this battle is about more than just about raw milk — it is about the individual getting to decide what to consume and not what the government is pushing. In a statement for The Defender, Barnes said:6
“Amos Miller, a fifth-generation Amish farmer from the heart of dairy country, produced tens of millions of food products for tens of thousands of Americans over a quarter century, using the best and healthiest techniques taught and trained by his father and his father before him. How do we know?
The total number of customer complaints to any government agency for any food product of Amos Miller’s is a big fat zero, the highest known customer satisfaction rate of any farmer in America.
Yet the government sought to shut him down and close his farm because they demanded 90% of raw milk products be banned from sale to anyone anywhere. This win for Amos Miller is a win for all small farmers, for the Amish and for everyone who cares about food freedom.”
The case also underscores a significant tension between traditional farming practices and modern regulatory frameworks. These actions often target raw milk producers who operate under stricter standards than large-scale agricultural corporations.
While regulators supposedly cite public health concerns, these measures disproportionately burden small farms, effectively consolidating market power among industrial producers For the Millers, complying with unreasonable state regulations would severely limit their product offerings, making their business model unsustainable.7
While regulators argue that raw milk poses public health risks due to potential bacterial contamination, advocates counter that traditional farming practices and consumer education reduce these risks. Raw milk supporters often cite its immune-boosting properties and benefits for digestion. They also argue that pasteurization, while effective at eliminating harmful bacteria, also destroys beneficial nutrients, making raw milk a superior choice for many of them.8
