| The debate over access to raw milk reached a tipping point Wednesday, as two dozen protesters stood outside the state capitol, rallying against Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin's raw milk bill veto.
"We are not free to choose what kinds of food we eat. It's none of their business how I cook my eggs, my steak, how I eat my sushi, or how I drink my milk," said Tinia Creamer, a small-scale dairy farmer from Wayne County.
Earlier this month, Gov. Tomblin vetoed a bill that would have allowed access to raw milk through herd-sharing agreements. The bill did not call for sale of raw milk to the public.
The bill would have required those consuming raw milk to sign a form acknowledging health risks.
"You can get salmonella from eggs. You can get salmonella from cheese. Why doesn't the governor ban eggs and cheese, or meat? I just don't get it," said 10-year-old Seth Carpenter, who was protesting the governor's veto.
In his veto message, Gov. Tomblin cited public health concerns, mentioning bacteria in unpasteurized milk could be dangerous for pregnant women, children and those with weak immune systems.
The protest was peaceful, but some farmers broke the law by bringing their own cow's milk and handing it out to others.
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