Raw milk battle reveals FDA abandonment of basic human right to choose your food

[subsuelo]

The Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund (FTCLDF), an organization whose mission includes "defending the rights and broadening the freedoms of family farms and protecting consumer access to raw milk and nutrient dense foods", recently filed a lawsuit against the FDA for its ban on interstate sales of raw milk. The suit alleges that such a restriction is a direct violation of the United States Constitution. Nevertheless, the suit led to a surprisingly cold response from the FDA about its views on food freedom (and freedoms in general).

In a dismissal notice issued to the Iowa District Court where the suit was filed, the FDA officially made public its views on health and food freedom. These views will shock you, but they reveal the true evil intent of the FDA and why it is truly a rogue federal agency.

The FDA essentially believes that nobody has the right to choose what to eat or drink. You are only "allowed" to eat or drink what the FDA gives you permission to. There is no inherent right or God-given right to consume any foods from nature without the FDA's consent.

...
The real reason why the FDA opposes raw milk is because Big Dairy opposes raw milk. Just like Big Pharma, Big Dairy has worked very hard behind the scenes to steer FDA policy in its favor. And according to some recent reports, Big Dairy is one of the primary forces trying to eliminate raw milk because it threatens the commercial milk business.

...
What's next? Will all farmer's markets be outlawed because the veggies haven't all been irradiated or pasteurized?

As usual, it's all about the money, and as you follow the money trail all the way up to the federal level, you find the same thing happening everywhere: At the FDA, USDA, FTC and so on. U.S. government regulators have become monopoly market enforcers for Big Business, and they won't let anything get in their way... not even personal health freedoms or just basic access to food.

more: http://www.naturalnews.com/028757_raw_milk_FDA.html">Natural News

[jtrockville]

1. I figure FDA abandoned that when they banned non-GMO labels

[mzteris]

2. WISCONSIN

Monday, May 10, 2010
12:50 PM Raw milk bill offers family farms, rural economy and governor a win

the passage of Senate Bill 434, a bill to legalize and regulate the sale of raw milk directly between farmers and consumers, he was given an opportunity to sign into law a bill to help put Wisconsin family farms and rural economies back on the path to profitability.

ith the passage of the raw milk bill in both the Senate (25-8) and the Assembly (60-35) he now has a chance to sign into law legislation that will help Wisconsin family farms that focus on grass-fed cows creating nutrient-rich whole milk to develop honest and direct commerce with people who want their products. These are the consumers who are driving the demand for organic and locally grown produce and dairy. These are the people who follow the studies tying the quality of their food to the quality of their health. These are the people who want to regain the health of our rural ancestors, who had the vitality to pioneer a great state, world-class educational institutions, innovative companies and championship teams.

There is money to be made for Wisconsin farm families who can sell their milk directly to consumers for $5 a gallon. These same farm families are opening profitable farm stores where they sell their own products, and those of their neighbors. Families from the city are willing to make the drive to buy meat, honey, maple syrup and baked goods. These farms are buying more land and expanding their herds. They are bringing family members in from out-of-state, creating more farms and reclaiming the land for nutrient-dense agriculture.

http://bizopinion.wisbusiness.com/2010/05/raw-milk-bill-offers-family-farms-rural.html


(My only complaint - is it gives ANY "credence" whatsoever to the quacks over at "weston price". . . )

[Warpy]

3. Milk borne diseases were eliminated by pasteurization

so I think it's a great idea to require it. If you want to drink raw milk, buy a cow or better yet, a goat.

Where I find the most oppression is in local boards of health who are preventing street food from being prepared and served. Overreaching boards of health have interfered in bake sales from time to time, forget about cooking hot foods to sell unless it's precooked hotdogs in a steamer plus chili prepared in an expensive commercial kitchen that meets their fastidious requirements.

The ridiculous restrictions that make it impossible to do street food in most areas are what have driven people to unhealthful choices like the high fat, salt and sugar food in fast food restaurants.

I miss street food. I haven't seen it for years.

[MajorChode]

7. There may be an argument for non pasteurized milk

The article above sure as hell doesn't make it. The pasteurization of milk was vital 100 years ago before refrigeration was available in every home. It's not as relevant today. The problem is, the testing and monitoring of unpasteurized milk needed to make it as safe or nearly as safe as pasteurized milk is going to be more expensive than pasteurization, which make it relevant to more of a botique grocery store market than the farmer's market type situation that the author is trying to suggest.

[Warpy]

8. Right on all counts.

Personally, I can't see any argument at all for drinking milk past the age of six or so, although I do love products like cheese and yogurt, but to each his own.

Still, even with refrigeration available in store and home, you can't really be sure about consistent refrigeration through milking, separating, transporting, repackaging, transporting, and refrigeration at the point of sale. Too much can go wrong, not dangerous for pasteurized milk but potentially fatal for raw milk.

[MajorChode]

10. The argument is pretty weak at best

Supposedly unpasteurized milk is beneficial for those with allergies and/or asthma. I suspect this would only be true if the milk were obtained from the local area. However, there are other better ways of dealing with that situation.

[mopinko]

16. you know what's funny about the bake sale thing? my daughter

works for one of the top rated hospitals in the country, and the employees have bake sales all the time.

[trotsky]

4. There are very good, very scientific, and very valid reasons for restricting access to raw milk.

It is not some horrible evil conspiracy at the highest levels of government.

[elocs]

5. Yes, but that doesn't make for an interesting story, doe it? n/t

[MajorChode]

6. Geez, how much hyperbole can they cram into one article?

Comparing unpasteurized milk to vegetables that haven't been radiated? What a crock.

[PSPS]

9. What a crock. A "basic human right" is to freely put dangerous food on the market?

I totally agree with the prohibition of raw milk. Bone up on your history. There's a reason pasteurization is the norm. My grandfather had a dozen dairy cows on his farm and he had no problem using his pasteurization machine.

[HuckleB]

11. Natural News is a great site to check out if you're doing a paper on propaganda.

"Freedom" is almost always used to push one thing or another.

[MajorChode]

12. Big fears, little risk

[Name removed]

15. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Codeine]

13. I tried to use some hyperbole yesterday

and found it was impossible. Turns out NaturalNews cornered the market on all forms of irrationally extreme overstatement and hoarded it up in anticipation of the Earth-shatteringly important issue of raw fucking moo juice. :eyes:

Not supposed to drink that nasty-ass shit anyway. It's for calves.

[EvolveOrConvolve]

17. Bravo! That's the funniest post I've read today

And a perfect response to an OP that barely deserves a response because of its inanity.

[Name removed]

14. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.