If you’re a foodie or a farmer in Ireland you’ll probably be aware of the pending possible ban on the sale of raw milk in Ireland.

In a nutshell, the Irish Government are considering imposing a ban on the sale of raw milk (fresh, unpasteurised milk from dairy farms) by the end of 2011 rather than introducing regulations. There has been no public consultation on the matter and it has resulted in the Campaign for Raw Milk Ireland (CRMI) started by a number of concerned businesses and organisations.

On Tuesday September 6th at The Sugar Club, Dublin the CRMI will host a debate entitled “Should the Irish Government Ban The Sale of Raw Milk?” in an effort to engage dialogue around the issue and hopefully encourage the authorities to make an informed decision. Here’s why CRMI are organising the debate:

We believe that everyone has a right to drink one of Irelands best products; milk – in its pure unadulterated creamy and delicious form – raw milk.

The choice is the key point here…

Informed consumers should have the right to decide for themselves what they eat and drink.

By banning raw milk we are sending the message to the world that we don’t trust our regulators, we don’t trust our farmers and we don’t trust our milk.

I’m really looking forward to hearing different opinions from all sides of the argument and there’s a fantastic line-up of panelists taking part including broadcaster and journalist Ella McSweeney, farmer and raw milk producer David Tiernan and retailer of raw milk Kevin Sheridan amongst others from food, farming and scientific backgrounds. The debate will be chaired by journalist Aoife Carrigy, one of the organisers of For Food’s Sake.

Why I think a ban is bad news

Personally, I think it would be crazy to introduce a ban and I honestly think it is simply taking the easy way out rather than drawing up sensible guidelines and regulations not to mind the fact that it undermines existing regulations in milk production.

Some of the happy herd at home

I grew up on a dairy farm and every day of my life growing up there I drank our own fresh “raw” milk. All through the years milk production has been highly regulated and if the milk produced doesn’t reach the suitable standards set out farmers are penalised heavily. Never in my life have I or any of my family taken ill because of consuming raw milk and anyone with a bit of sense knows it’s not only miles better for you than the pasteurised version but tastes so much better.

A report on the raw milk issue on RTE’s Ear to the Ground

When and where

Admission is €5 on the door and doors open at 7pm with the debate beginning at 7.30pm sharp at The Sugar Club on Leeson Street, Dublin 2 near the corner of St. Stephen’s Green.

For more information on the event click here and to find out more about the Campaign for Raw Milk Ireland click here, check them out on Facebook or follow them on Twitter @RawMilkIreland.

You can also follow the ongoing discussion on Twitter by following the #rawmilk hash tag. See you there!