Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund is one of dozens of organizations, and more than 600 signatories from across the country to support a petition by Rural Vermont to improve the Federal Meat Inspection Act (FMIA). Currently, FMIA only allows farmers to raise, slaughter, and butcher their animals without inspection for their personal use, not sold to […]
foodborne illness
New Developments in the Fight for Food Sovereignty in Maine
For almost two years Maine state regulators have kept a small home food business from serving healthy, prepared meals to a rural community. Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund (FTCLDF), in support of Kenduskeag Kitchen owner Rhiannon Deschaine and other members, maintains the action taken by the State of Maine Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) […]
New USDA Mandate to Test Dairy Cattle for Avian Flu Despite No Evidence HPAI is Foodborne
The USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has announced that all dairy cattle must be tested for HPAI prior to moving across state lines. The USDA order requires a negative test from an approved National Animal Health Laboratory. A number of recent reports have raised concerns about highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) spreading […]
Update: State of Maine and Town of Kenduskeag Strengthen Laws Related to Food Freedom
In response to action taken by FTCLDF and some of its members, drafters of the Maine Food Sovereignty Act and the Town of Kenduskeag decided to improve on the relevant laws and make it absolutely crystal clear that the kind of food preparation being done by Kenduskeag Kitchen is covered by the law and was […]
From the Director’s Desk: Food Safety, Pasteurization and Blue Bell Creameries
Some weeks, fate makes funny things fall across your plate at the same time. As I was reading about a recent listeria outbreak from pasteurized ice cream, someone sent me a food safety blog post, which mentions the Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund, concerning the dangers of raw milk. The below