Finally, an In-Depth Look at Raw Milk Cheese; Ahem, About That Food Safety Crisis Congress Is About to Respond To

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has suggested on several occasions over the last few years that there are safety issues associated with raw milk cheeses. It has further suggested it wants to lengthen, or do away entirely with the current 60-day aging requirement and just ban raw milk cheese altogether. That would put a big crimp in raw milk distribution and consumption, and presumably hurt producers of raw milk, which often sell significant amounts to artisanal cheese producers. All this, of course, would be in line with the FDA's express goal of reducing or eliminating raw milk consumption.

The driving force behind the FDA's offensive, which has taken the form of inspections of well over 100 cheese producers this year, including the shutdown of two that made no one sick, would be expected to be safety. The agency makes a big deal about raw milk consumption being the equivalent of "playing Russian roulette with your health."

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A Look Inside the 'Raw' Milk Underground

It didn’t look like a batch of groceries that could get someone in trouble.

I inspected the cardboard box full of two half-gallons of milk, two cartons of eggs and a white plastic bag with some chicken livers inside. All of the goods were straight from the farm, including the milk, which was "raw," or unpasteurized.

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The Calgary [raw] goat milk seizure

I have a lot to say and a lot has happened this month. Most of you know that Alberta Health Services came into our store and seized Abigail’s raw milk. Cody was charged with assault charges for chasing after the health inspector in the parking lot trying to take back Abigail’s life force nutrient dense raw goat milk.

Here is a direct email from the health inspector: The fact this product is being stored, displayed, and dispensed in your facility is more than enough reason for Alberta Health Services to take an interest in it. As a permitted food establishment, you may not store, display or provide any food that is not from an approved source, or food that is unfit for human consumption in your facility. The unlabeled and, presumably, unpasteurized milk is most likely not an approved product nor from an approved source. You may not continue to store or distribute this product from your facility unless you can provide evidence that this product is from an approved source and safe for public distribution.

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Is the food safety bill bad for small farmers?

I buy milk, eggs, bacon, beef, chicken, pecans and honey from local farmers here in Cowley County. Every summer I look forward to shopping at Winfield’s farmer’s market for produce I’m not already growing myself. I know the items I am buying - most of which are grown without the use of pesticides or growth hormones - are good quality. I know because I ask. And I want to be able to continue buying locally grown products like these and more as they become available.

A few weeks ago I wrote about the food safety bill that was going through Congress. Language in the bill that would allow the FDA to scrutinize health supplement companies (as if they were prescription drugs, which they are not) and penalize any offenders with ten year prison sentences has been removed from the bill. But, it’s still a dangerous piece of legislation.

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Mythbusting: Cheap food does not equal higher quality of life

For decades, the federal government has watched idly while a few gigantic companies grabbed ever-greater control of the food industry. As big players gobble smaller ones, they concentrate power at the top of the food chain -- and apply relentless pressure to cut costs, giving rise to many of the things I hate about the food system. Workers, farmers, the environment, animals, public health -- all get abused so that mega-retailers like Walmart, meat producers like Smithfield, and corn processors like Cargill can keep costs down while profitably selling cheap food.

Well, in a sharp break from its predecessors, the Obama Justice Department is actually acknowledging the problem and contemplating actually doing something about it. The DOJ has been holding public meetings to let players in the food system air out thier views on the issue.

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Iowa Activists Are "Ready to Rumble" with Factory Farms

Elections bring a change of regime. It's not just the politicians who get voted in that matter, but their advisors and the appointments they make to various government agencies at all levels. In Iowa, Governor-Elect Terry Brandstad just appointed a new head of the state's Department of Natural Resources (DNR). There are some serious questions being raised about Roger Lande, a lawyer and industry insider, who is set to take the post. Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement (ICCI) intends to keep a close eye on Lande and make sure he is keeping a close eye on polluting factory farms.

Lande is a shareholder and director of the law firm Stanley, Lande, and Hunter, which has represented some pretty bad agribusiness actors like Monsanto and the Iowa Farm Bureau. Lande is also the former chair of ABI, a lobbying firm that recently called for the de-regulation of the factory farm industry. So ICCI has some legit concerns about Lande. Vern Tigges, ICCI's Board President, says that the group intends to make sure Lande's past work "won’t prevent him from fulfilling the DNR’s primary mission to protect the environment...We expect Lande to stand up for clean air and water and to crack down on factory farm polluters."

[ READ MORE (Change.org) ]