What Do Raw-Milk Devotees Talk About When They Get Together?
Friday, March 9, 2007 at 11:30PM I had the good fortune Friday evening of meeting personally a number of individuals who regularly add to this blog via their incisive comments. The meeting came about thanks to Linda Diane Feldt, an Ann Arbor, MI, holistic practitioner, who organized a community dinner I was able to attend because I was in the area on other business.
Most of the 30 or so people in attendance are members either of the Family Farms Cooperative (FFC), which was hit by the Michigan Department of Agriculture's (MDA) sting operation of last October 13, and a second, smaller raw-milk co-op. Not surprisingly, there was lots of discussion about the fine points, and not-so-fine points, of raw milk consumption, including:
--Remembering the first time you consumed raw milk. A few people recalled with amazement their fear about drinking raw milk for the first time. "I thought I would get terribly sick," said one man. I know I had the same feeling--that I might be poisoned by all the terrible bacteria lurking in this "illegal" drink. Then government regulators could claim, "See, we told you so." Not surprisingly, no one in the room has ever gotten the least bit sick from raw milk, and many have consumed it for many years.
--Whose raw milk tastes best? It seems that some raw milk tastes sweeter than other raw milk. The general consensus was that purely grass-fed cows, such as those at Organic Pastures in California, produce less sweet milk than cows fed some grain to supplement their grass and hay. The grain seems to make for sweeter tasting milk.
--Why I could never go back to pasteurized milk. One of the big topics of conversation, not surprisingly, was the legal case hanging over FFC, and in particular the warning letter issued raw-milk supplier David Hochstetler by the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA). FFC members fear the action could lead to a disruption of their supply. "I've become dependent on raw milk," said one man. "My whole family has. I feel my children are healthier since they've been drinking it the last year or so. I know we couldn't drink the pasteurized stuff any more than we could drink Coke or Pepsi."
A special guest of honor at the dinner was Richard Hebron, the farmer who was at the center of the October 13 sting operation. He reported that he delivered more milk Friday to Michigan dropoff points than at any time since last October, when the sting operation led to a decline of up to 25% and more in demand for raw milk. Based on Friday's deliveries, consumption was down only about 10% from October. A second farmer, who serves the smaller co-op, was also on hand, expressing the hope additional dairy farmers will take the risk associated with distributing raw milk.
Special thanks to Linda for being a wonderful host, and for serving up some delicious soups and breads (several of which she describes ongoing on her blog).
Reader Comments (3)
Voluntary and Open Membership
Democratic Member Control
Members Economic Participation
Autonomy and Independence
Education, Training and Information
Cooperation among Cooperatives
Concern for Community
The ICA was founded in 1895, and works with co-ops in over 85 countries, representing millions of co-op participants (www.ica.coop). I'm a big supporter of the cooperative business model, but our tiny group is not one.
My primary goal last night was to help strengthen our community of like minded people. Even though it is also a really diverse group! It is a treat to meet people face to face after just having the shared blogging exprience. It is also all about strengthening the relaitonship between farmers and consumers, and that happened as well.
Milk Contamination Cover-up
Friday, 09 March 2007
Natrel, Lanark District Health Unit
Jacqueline Fennell, Leeds, Grenville Landowners Association
Monday, March 5, 2007
Is the Leeds Grenville & Lanark District Health Unit (LGLDH) aiding and abetting corporate Canada's food contamination cover up? It is apparent in the actions of the last 6 days that LGLDH is aiding Natrel (a division of Agropur) in keeping secret the severe illnesses brought on by consuming Natrel's dairy products.
On Wednesday February 28, 2007, Cardinal resident Diane Hampton contacted the LGLDH to report contaminated milk. Mrs. Hampton had purchased 1% "Natrel Pure Filter" milk and soon after drinking the milk she began experiencing significant painful symptoms and serious illness. Samples of the milk and packaging were dropped off at the Brockville Health unit office that same day.
Six days later, the samples of milk are still sitting in a freezer in the Brockville office. They are "waiting for the lab to tell them what to do with the samples" according to health unit officials. Health Unit officials explained to Mrs. Hampton it was probably due to contamination by the chemicals used "to clean the milk tanks." The contaminated milk has the smell and taste of manure, not chemicals.
What makes this event even more disconcerting is that the Health Unit has neglected to advise the public of the potential dangers, while consumers continue to purchase this product. It is unknown how many others may have become ill while this information remains hidden from the public.
There are no warnings or advisories listed by Natrel or the CFIA on their websites. This is either a result of the incompetence or neglect by LGLDH to contact federal officials, or the failure on the CFIA to post them.
The Leeds & Grenville Landowners have two samples of this same contaminated milk and are expecting independent lab results early this week. Out of concern for public health safety, LGLA will ensure that test results are made public as soon as they are received.
It is apparent that the Health Unit is intent on protecting corporate Canada while continuously harassing small food producers and farmers markets. If the Health Unit would stop attacking farmers markets and muzzling its board members, they could focus their attention on real issues that are truly affecting public safety.
Jacqueline Fennell
President, Leeds, Grenville Landowners Association
My local--licensed--Raw Milk dairy was shut down by the state recently based on a random sampling of milk. In truth there was nothing wrong with the milk as it didn't affect those who kept drinking it--the dairy owners and their pigs--during the closure. Despite numerous re-testings of the facility, over a two month period the dairy heard nothing about their milk. Phone calls, letters, emails all went unanswered. A dairy with a 30 year track record of never having a problem with their milk was held at a stand still. Why?
One lazy bureaucrat with a bug up her butt trying to be a one person campaign against raw milk when it wasn't her place to do so. She got the all-clear reports from the labs, and the pleading letters, emails and phone calls and sat on them doing nothing, finally writing the letter that would allow the dairy to continue operating--but she didn't mail it before going on a 3-week vacation. A full investigation has been promised, but a copy of her letter of resignation is about the only thing to cool tempers around here.
With the implementation of NAIS, and the cartel-like control of the food system by the government and their corporate overlords we need more people like Richard Hebron and the members of the FFc to stand up for what is right. This country needs more Raw Milk Dairies or more people willing to own a family cow.