¡Join the fight!
Those of you who came to Fair Food Fight Night last week got to hear about antibiotic use in agriculture first hand, so this is timely: The Food and Drug Administration is joining the growing of politicos who see the writing on the wall forlivestock-antibiotics. From the AP today:
The Food and Drug Administration is urging meat producers to limit the amount of antibiotics they give animals in response to public health concerns about the drugs. Read more...
As terms of a settlement with the Kellogg Company, the Federal Trade Commission has issued a new, expanded order banning Kellogg's from "making 'claims about any health benefit of any food unless the claims are backed by scientific evidence and not misleading.'"
Are you a farmer selling raw milk in Minnesota? In the wake of four people getting sick from allegedly drinking raw milk, a crack down on selling raw milk is underway by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture. If you sell raw milk in Minnesota, and you've been meaning to cover your bases legally, ASAP would be a very good time to do so.
Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle vetoed his state's controversial raw milk bill yesterday.
"I recognize that there are strong feelings on both sides of this matter, but on balance, I must side with the interests of public health and the safety of the dairy industry," [Governor Doyle] said in his veto letter to lawmakers. Read more...
Have you heard of PAMTA yet? Chances are you will, because it's an issue that's likely to become red-hot this the summer. Rep. Louise Slaughter (D-NY), the only microbiologist in U.S. Congress, has introduced the Preservation of Antibiotics for Medical Treatment Act (PAMTA), which would regulate the use of antibiotics in agriculture. Read more...
Wisconsin assembly votes 60-35 to legalize some sales of raw milk through the end of 2011. Via the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel:
Assembly early Friday morning passed 60-35 a controversial bill that would allow farmers to sell untreated milk at their farms.
The issue has struck a chord with many consumers and segments of the farm community who tout milk — straight from the udder — as a safe product with many healthful properties. The bill had already passed the Senate and now goes to Gov. Jim Doyle, who has said he would sign a raw milk bill under the right circumstances. Read more...
Raw milk is definitely a fringe issue for most Americans, but it's fascinating to watch it gain some "mainstream steam".
Our eyes turn once again to Wisconsin, where Democratic gubernatorial candidate Tim John is leveraging the buzz in his state's raw milk battle to appeal to voters. From John's blog:
In my ongoing search for ways that shoppers could actively help dairy farmers in the current crisis, I'd love to get some feedback from dairy farmers about this bill in the US senate. Via AgriNews:
The Federal Milk Marketing Improvement Act of 2009, S. 1645, would simplify the milk pricing system and base prices off the national average cost of production. It's sponsored by Sen. Arlen Specter, D-Pa.
Of course, simplifying the pricing structure for milk means diving into the discombobulating maze that is US milk pricing. For exeample, I freely admit I have no idea what the hell this means: Read more...
Wisconsin's Senate Ag Committee has passed a bill to allow sales of raw milk from certified farms in the state. From Wisconsin Ag Connection:
"Today's vote is a great example of politics working at the grassroots level," [bill co-sponsor Se. Pat] Kreitlow said. "After hearing hours of testimony from hundreds of concerned citizens on both sides of the issue last week, legislators from both parties got together and worked out a compromise that allows families who wish to purchase raw milk to do so, while ensuring that concerns about public health are taken seriously." Read more...
The raw milk fight has been heating up over the last year, with various states moving to legalize sales of raw milk. Raw milk dairy farmer Michael Schmidt's fight and win in Canada has certainly been encouraging to raw milk enthusiasts, and the publication of David Gumpert's Raw Milk Revolution, seems to have turned up the heat under the raw milk story, too.
But if I were looking for bigger watershed moments that mightactually change national opinion (or spark a deeper conversation), I'd watch the raw milk legalization debate in Wisconsin right now. Read more...
