Raw milk advocate Hershberger appealing conviction

Vernon Hershberger was joined by lawyers and fellow raw milk advocates at his farm on Saturday to explain why he’s appealing his recent conviction.

Hershberger was acquitted of three charges of selling raw milk but was found guilty of selling the milk after a judge ordered him not to.

Hershberger said he’s appealing to make sure food choice rights are protected.

“We just want to make sure there’s not a precedent set where they just come in and confiscate or embargo privately-owned food,” said Hershberger.

But critics counter that raw milk is just too dangerous to be sold.

“We do not believe it is possible to make raw milk safe for people to drink,” said Shawn Pfaff of the Wisconsin Safe Milk Coalition. “So that’s why we encourage lawmakers to keep it illegal in this state.”

There is currently a bill in the State Senate that would legalize raw milk, but to be sold, containers would have to be marked and the milk would have to make grade-A status.