Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., questioned Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. during a House hearing Thursday, pressing him on whether federal officials should warn Americans against consuming raw milk, as reported by The Gateway Pundit.

The exchange centered on the safety of unpasteurized milk and the role of federal agencies in advising the public.

DeLauro asked Kennedy whether he believed there was a responsibility to discourage Americans from drinking raw milk due to potential health risks.

“You are the Secretary of Health and Human Services. Is there not some moral responsibility or compunction to say, ‘Don’t drink raw milk, don’t do that, because it’s unpasteurized and can cause serious harm to your health?’ Is that not something you view as your responsibility?” DeLauro said during the hearing.

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She continued by outlining how she would approach the issue if she were leading the department.

“If I were the head of HHS, I would by God say don’t take raw milk! It is dangerous to your health and if you can’t say that well maybe there are some other conclusions that can be drawn!” DeLauro said.

Kennedy responded by emphasizing a different approach to public health communication.

He told lawmakers that agencies should “inform the public” and “let people make a choice,” rather than mandate or dictate behavior.

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The exchange took place as lawmakers examined broader health policy issues under the Department of Health and Human Services.

Raw milk has been the subject of ongoing debate, with some public health officials warning about potential risks tied to unpasteurized dairy products, while others argue that consumers should be able to make their own decisions based on available information.

DeLauro, who has served in Congress for decades and is one of the senior Democratic members from Connecticut, has previously questioned Kennedy during earlier hearings.

In May 2025, she also engaged with him during his first major appearance as HHS secretary, where she raised concerns about his positions on health-related issues.

Kennedy, who now leads the Department of Health and Human Services, has spoken about the role of federal agencies in providing information to the public rather than issuing blanket directives.

During Thursday’s hearing, his remarks reflected that position as he addressed DeLauro’s questions.

The hearing did not result in any immediate policy changes regarding raw milk regulation.

Federal guidelines on dairy safety and pasteurization remain in place, and the issue continues to be debated at both the federal and state levels.

Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have previously raised questions about how much authority federal agencies should exercise in shaping public behavior, particularly on issues tied to health and consumer choice.

The exchange between DeLauro and Kennedy highlighted those differences in approach, with DeLauro advocating for stronger warnings from federal officials and Kennedy emphasizing a focus on providing information and allowing individuals to decide.

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