Demand for raw milk is growing in much of the United States, including the state of Massachusetts, where the number of dairies licensed to sell raw milk has grown from 12 to 23 in the past two years.

Meanwhile, according to the Northeast Organic Farming Association, dairies are selling more raw milk than they were just five years ago, and consumers call in every week looking for advice on where to find it.

While the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warns that raw milk can carry disease-causing bacteria, advocates say raw milk is healthy because it contains good bacteria, enzymes and raw fats that help to boost your immune system and aid digestion.

Both anecdotal and scientific reports also support the health benefits. For instance, a study by researchers at the Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine at the University of Basel in Switzerland found that children who drank raw milk had a lower risk of asthma and allergies.

Raw milk can be sold for human consumption in 28 states, but only eight states allow it to be sold in stores. As a result, many people have begun to form buying clubs that buy raw milk directly from the dairy.