Those who give family members raw milk to drink will face fines of $60,000 under new Victorian regulations.
As of Sunday, a strong bittering agent will be put into raw milk to deter people from consuming it, Minister for Consumer Affairs Jane Garrett says.
"It's been illegal for decades and has the potential to make people very, very sick," Ms Garrett told reporters on Saturday.
"Last year we saw several children very sick and hospitalised and one child died after consuming raw milk."
She said those who consumed the unpasteurised milk were at risk of contracting diseases like E coli infections and because people hadn't heeded the warnings, the government had acted.
Those selling raw milk for consumption or giving it to someone for consumption risk receiving a fine of $60,000.
Farmers and dairy producers who do not add the bittering agent also risk losing their licence.
But not all agree that the raw milk is unhealthy, with more than 100 protesters coming together outside Ms Garrett's Brunswick office stating they would continue to drink the milk in what they describe as its purest form.
