Eight words are threatening to change your life:
“or more than ten coliform bacteria per milliliter€
Those are the eight words added to dairy legislation in California on October 8, 2007.
Assembly Bill #1735 (AB 1735) was signed by the Governor and becomes law on January 1st 2008. Contained in this law are new standards for raw milk. These new standards require 10 coliform bacteria per ml or less. This standard does not increase the safety of raw milk and it will make the production of organic raw milk in California nearly impossible. Under the old tried and true old standards that have been in existence for forty years or more, coliforms could be 50 or 500. It did not matter.
Coliforms are not pathogenic. They do not cause disease. They actually act very effectively to protect raw milk against pathogens like E. coli 0157:H7. Coliforms make vitamin K, B-1, B-2, B-6 and B-12 and without coliforms, and the beneficial colicins they produce we would die. v These eight words in California law will in effect remove and deny your access to raw milk, because it is not possible to reliably produce raw milk with coliform levels at less than 10 per ml. Most milk samples simply have coliform counts higher than 10 per ml. That is just the nature of milk, a fact that is in USDA published peer reviewed journals show the value of good coliforms in food safety and surely this should be known by the CDFA in California.
Read these studies on our website.
The language contained in AB 1735 was placed there by CDFA to get rid of Raw Milk in California. Last year you might remember that CDFA ordered a recall of all OPDC raw milk products. Several months ago after threatened legal pressure CDFA settled with OPDC for a cash amount, mutual legal release, and the promise that OPDC would not sue CDFA or its personnel for the biased and unfounded recall. FDA, DHS, and CDFA concluded after several weeks of intensive testing of cows fresh manure and OPDC dairy products that there was no connection between any sickened children and OPDC raw dairy products.
AB 1735 is nothing more than a CDFA sneak attack trying its very hardest to once and for all get rid of raw milk and OPDC.
But don’t take my word for it. Go to the California Assembly website and check out the legislative notes. This attack was directed right at you and me and we were not even consulted. Read more here about how to investigate your legislator’s intentions.
It is time for you to call your representative in the Assembly and Senate, the Governor, and the Secretary of Agriculture to make sure your voice is heard.
It is also time to write to your local paper and post on your blog how you feel about these eight new words in California law.
The Agriculture Committee Staff claims that there was no argument or discussion about this issue and that there was unanimous consent during the vote when AB 1735 passed. There were supposedly public hearings held in January 2007, but neither Claravale nor OPDC was advised and no raw milk consumers were told either. These are the only two dairies in the state to be effected by the change of code and law.
If you want raw milk on the shelf or at the farmers market in California; it is time to fight for this right.
We ask that you please come to the Fresno Farmers Market on Saturday October 27th at 11:00 AM for a press conference and formal announcement of the sneak attack.
The press will be present and will want to hear your testimonials.
We do not loose are rights all in one day. We lose them little by little every day.
Stand up and let’s show them what we brave raw milk consumers are made of in California.
Learn how you can help.
- Mark McAfee, Organic Pastures Dairy Company
About the Author...
Joanne Hay, Editor of Nourished Magazine, Chief Nourisher and Mother of three is very grateful to live in Byron Bay and be able to share all she has learned about Nourishment. She has trained as an Acupuncturist (unfinished), Kinesiologist (finished) and parent (never finished). She serves the Weston A Price Foundation as a chapter leader. She loves sauerkraut, kangaroo tail stew, home made ice cream, her husband Wes and her kids Isaiah, Brynn and Ronin (in no particular order…well maybe ice cream first).
Oct 31st, 2007 at 8:59 pm
Let me see if I can stop myself from closing this email….
Sheesh, Joanne, I remember reading about this. I got distracted because of the fires down south, about 8 hours from us. CA. is a long state. I’m saddened by the loss of so many homes, yet, there’s been more than one environmentalist that said these many of these houses should have never been built in their locations. Still sad.
Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger is an idiot. Other than our President, he’s the next in line least capable of running a state. I’m mortified.
Last night I watched the Dem debates. Edwards spoke of the pharma/ insurance industry and corruption….he was great but then I’m just as contemptuous of both groups. Obama held his own. And, I’ve always liked Biden, on the whole. I pray we don’t get nasty with Iran. And, what’s w/ Hillary doing signing a bill written by Bush and Chaney?
Sigh….Raw milk. I wonder what lobby brought THAT up to the assembly and got it signed?
Thanks for keeping us all current.
Abrasitos.
Karen
Nov 1st, 2007 at 2:30 pm
California Raw Milk in Jeopardy: Update
Update on AB 1735 Food Freedom Fight Sacramento Meeting Brings Promising News
Dear Raw Milk Supporters
First of all, the consumer uprising in the face of the “AB1735 Raw Milk Surprise†has been tremendous. Faxes, voicemails, emails and letters are virtually saturating members of the Assembly, CDFA, and the Governor’s office. We are making solid progress thanks to this wonderful support.
Two weeks ago I requested a meeting with CDFA staff and legislative representatives to review elements of AB1735 and present important scientific information not included or reviewed during the “very quiet” legislative process. This information included USDA peer reviewed research, University studies, CDC data, and other essential information missed because no meaningful or representative debate occurred when the bill was passed.
The meeting, held in Sacramento on Monday, October 29th, was well attended by senior Ph.D. staff from CDFA, assembly staff representatives, and Agricultural Committee staff. After about ninety minutes, senior staff at CDFA committed to working with us to find a mutually agreeable solution to the issues.
My key statements included the following: “I have so much compelling information, and so little time to present it. Although we and our consumers are the major stakeholders in AB 1735, we were neither notified of, nor invited to the formal legislative process. This is an outrage, and amounts to legislation without representation.â€
I stated my viewpoint that pasteurized dairy products and raw dairy products can and should co-exist. There was complete agreement on this point, yet initial disagreement on what that should look like.
While the CDFA scientists conceded no pathogens have ever been found at OPDC in seven years of testing, they insisted that California raw milk codes be harmonized with FDA codes. I disagreed adamantly. How can our state codes possibly align with those of a federal agency that badly misconstrues the nature of raw milk, using phrases such as “playing Russian Roulette with your life.â€
The message got through loud and clear and we now have a firm commitment from CDFA to work together and resolve this issue quickly and effectively.
Our panel (see below) has submitted a five point plan – along with a three inch thick ream of pathogen test data and University research –to the CDFA and the legislative committee. We will meet again very shortly to discuss the proposal and lay the groundwork for resolution.
I have sent a letter to the Governor’s office requesting a meeting as soon as possible. Gov. Schwarzenegger is perhaps the most progressive governor California has ever had regarding health issues. It is doubtful he had any idea that AB1735 contained a hidden surprise that would threaten raw milk. How could he have known? There were no discussions or debate.
It is essential that your voices continue to be heard. Keep pressing your assembly members and the Governor for support. It appears that a new bill will need to be introduced to overturn elements of AB1735, including additional safeguards to secure the future of sustainable, safe, fresh, delicious, and nutritious raw milk for the years to come.
In California, raw milk is a sacred food. The consumption of raw milk is an intentional act and not done by error or mistake. Consumption of raw milk is a freedom preserved by longstanding California Food and Agriculture Code #35928 (F). This venerable raw milk law makes restriction of California raw milk illegal. Our arguments stand on solid ground.
Even though the CDFA has promised full cooperation, it is still early in this process and many turns lay ahead. Look for updates on this historic showdown, and keep supporting the struggle to protect your fundamental right to eat any whole, unprocessed, natural food of your choosing.
We are very grateful for the CDFA’s solid commitment to work with us, and feel hopeful about the future of raw milk.
Mark McAfee, Founder OPDC
Our expert panel includes:
Jan Krancher, Ph.D. Nutrition – retired county health inspector
Dale Jacobson, D.C. - practices in Nevada City
Paul Spiegel, Esq., – raw milk consumer with interest in raw artisan cheeses
Rick Jefferies - political consultant and activist
Mark McAfee, Founder OPDC - organic farmer, retired paramedic, county health educator
Anna Catharina Berge DVM, State of CA - epidemiologist
PS In another secret legislative process earlier this year, you lost your right to buy truly raw almonds at the grocery store. Let this not be the year we also lose raw milk!
Mark