December 27, 2007

 

Consumers blast new California dairy standards
 

 

Buyers of raw milk have opposed the new dairy regulations effective next month in California, stating it could prohibit choices from their preferred products.

 

Though the new law doesn't completely ban raw milk, producers believe it could dry up supplies by setting new bacteria limits they say are difficult to meet.

 

According to Mark McAfee, founder of Fresno-based Organic Pastures Dairy Company, the larger of two raw milk producers in California, the new standards is a "huge issue that directly affects consumer choice". He adds that consumers are already fed up with the "government manipulating their kitchens and they want to be able to make their independent choices about food they want to eat."

 

State officials, on the other hand, say producers should be able to meet the standards, for consumer safety.

 

The new standard, part of AB1735, takes effect in January, setting a limit of no more than 10 coliforms per millilitre.

 

Coliforms are a group of bacteria commonly found in the environment, most of which do not cause disease. Pasteurisation, in which milk is heated, kills many bacteria, but remains alive in raw milk.

 

Steve Lyle, spokesman for the California Department of Food and Agriculture said coliform is "indicative of healthy, clean and wholesome production process of raw milk.

 

However, raw milk producers are complaining that their product is already tested for dangerous bacteria such as E. coli and salmonella and the presence of other coliforms in their milk are "simply part of what makes their product unique, and in their view, healthier, by promoting a stronger immune system".

  

Moreover, raw milk producers and consumers say they weren't told about the change until after the new law passed quietly earlier this year.

 

Others states already have adopted the 10-coliform standard, and supporters of the stricter standards say it won't necessarily spell trouble for the raw milk industry.

 

Although the 10-coliform limit can be reached when milk is tested in bulk tanks, McAfee said it's hard to get much below 15 in the bottle because the process breaks up clumps of coliforms which produces a higher count.

 

Some children fell ill last year after consuming Organic Pastures products, according to state officials. Five children reportedly were sickened, and officials discovered a possible sixth case.

 

However, testing at Organic Pastures did not detect the strain of E. coli that sickened some of the children.

 

McAfee said there was no connection between sick kids and his products and said state officials admitted that and signed a settlement agreement this summer.

 

Dr. Kevin Reilly, deputy director of the California Department of Public Health, said health officials still believe there is a compelling argument for an epidemiological link because all the children had consumed raw milk products.

 

Still and all, raw milk can cure everything from asthma to digestive troubles and consumers will never let their product disappear from store shelves.