In 1967 Congress passed the Wholesome Meat Act, Public Law 90-201, amending the Federal Meat Inspection Act (FMIA). The act expanded the federal government’s authority over meat slaughter and processing to intrastate commerce but did create exemptions from the requirement that an inspector be present when slaughtering is taking place. The Wholesome Meat Act allowed the “uninspected” slaughter of meat animals at a custom facility as long as the owner…
Resources
Meatshare Primer
Meatshare refers to the situation when a consumer purchases a live animal, a portion of a live animal, or a portion of a herd of live animals directly from the producer. Once the animal is slaughtered, the consumer receives their promised share, such as meat from a quarter or half of the animal. Similar to a […]
Cottage Food Business Primer
My favorite products at local farm stands and farmers markets (besides the bounty of fresh fruit and vegetables, of course!) are the delicious baked goods and jarred concoctions crafted from the fresh ingredients, and not insignificant labor, of neighboring producers. The sweet and sticky fruit jams and jellies, the delicate and fragrant herb scones, the […]
Introduction to the Raw Milk Map
Raw milk laws differ from state to state, due in part to the federal ban on the interstate transport of raw milk for human consumption. This raw milk map and chart reflect the statutes, regulations, and court cases in effect as of…
Introduction to the Cottage Food Map
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Food Code is a model code and reference document for state and local governments on food safety laws. The FDA Food Code prohibits the sale of food made in home kitchens, which means that most states did the same for many years. In the last decade, however, great progress has been made…