Way to go Whole Foods, you’ve pissed off the foodies.

There is currently a swirl of controversy on discussion groups, listservs and news articles, and probably grocery store aisles surrounding Whole Foods’ recent decision to discontinue offering raw milk in four states. Raw milk is milk that has not been pasteurized or homogenized, and to many, it is considered a much healthier alternative to processed dairy. The natural and organic grocery store that was once a haven or heaven for the regular purchasers of wheat germ, kale, and organic dog food, has stopped selling the product in California, Florida, Washington, Pennsylvania and Connecticut.

The Miami New Times Food Blog cites an interview with Whole Foods, who responded that the decision was simply a regional, business decision, and could not get into the details. Another blog, “Harke is Online” claimed the decision was an “insurance policy issue.” Raw milk is sometimes considered unsafe because bacteria and pathogens can still exist: what normally might be killed in pasteurization. Many times, raw milk sold commercially is often marketed as “pet milk,” because raw milk is illegal in many states to be sold for human consumption. In these states, including Michigan, Ohio, Illinois, Indiana and Minnesota, an underground, black-market for milk is created to meet demand for the product. When I hear underground milk market, I imagine farmers in these places trading the contraband milk like marijuana. Or farmers getting arrested with jars of raw milk in the back of their trucks. But honestly, my imagination isn’t getting the best of me. There are stories out there like that. Check out this Time Magazine article.It specifically mentions the underground market for raw milk in the Great Lake states.

I wonder if the recent decision by this giant retailer will send foodies flocking to the region to get their contraband milk.