Why is the FDA using swat teams on raw milk?

[spidey07]

I've been hearing more about this. "Raw" milk is simply milk that hasn't been pasteurized. OK, no big deal there as long as the farmer does his work and tests the milk and cows.

But apparently the FDA is running around shutting down such an atrocity of selling tasty fresh milk.

http://articles.latimes.com/2010/jul/25/business/la-fi-raw-food-raid-20100725

LOL! Look at the fear they're pushing on their site.
http://www.fda.gov/Food/ResourcesForYou/Consumers/ucm079516.htm

 

[zinfamous]

remember when Dave warned us about things like this?

:hmm:

 

[misle]

According to this article, they didn't have permits.

Stewart runs the Venice market Rawesome, which has been in operation for more than six years but has never had any type of business permit or license, prosecutors allege.
.......
While it is lawful to manufacture and sell unpasteurized dairy products in California, applicable licenses and permits are required.

 

[Newbian]

Story is from a year ago and is horribly written.

 

[spidey07]

Story is from a year ago and is horribly written.

But the FDA has been cracking down on raw milk a ton.

 

[Newbian]

But the FDA has been cracking down on raw milk a ton.

It's not the raw milk from the story but the fact they didn't have the licenses to sell it.

 

[ElFenix]

permits and licenses which probably are so onerous to get that you have to be one of the larger concerns in order to afford one. the same larger concerns that were and are the source of the problems of industrialized food.

problem is the laws are written to protect non-expert consumers from industrial concerns, and basically don't allow much in the way of informed consumers purchasing from cottage industries.

 

[sao123]

after recent outbreaks of salmonella and other foodborne illnesses, the FDA should crack down on farmers selling unpasteurized dairy products.

if you want unpasteurized, you should grow it yourself.... but not sell or distribute it.

 

[waffleironhead]

Salmonella, E. coli, and Listeria. Nothing I want in my milk, thank you very much.

 

[TridenT]

Salmonella, E. coli, and Listeria. Nothing I want in my milk, thank you very much.

This.

OP is being a troll as usual.

 

[spidey07]

Salmonella, E. coli, and Listeria. Nothing I want in my milk, thank you very much.

So then buy pasteurized milk.

 

[Texashiker]

But the FDA has been cracking down on raw milk a ton.

Because its a public health issue.

I fully support the FDA in this decision.

If a company was selling untreated river water in bottles, that would be ok? Its the same thing with the milk. Mankind has moved past the stone age. We know how to prevent diseases, so lets use that technology.

So then buy pasteurized milk.

Most people do not know what pasteurized milk and non-pasteurized milk is. They just read the label, and say "oh, ok".

 

[xSauronx]

Salmonella, E. coli, and Listeria. Nothing I want in my milk, thank you very much.

yeah, but i think if you want to take the risk, then have at it.

/meh

 

[Hoober]

Most people do not know what pasteurized milk and non-pasteurized milk is. They just read the label, and say "oh, ok".

Government != nanny state. Or rather, it shouldn't. If people want to buy natural milk, let them. It's their body.

 

[Texashiker]

It's their body.

Its one thing if the disease could not be spread.

Its another thing if someone drinks raw milk, gets sick, then spreads that disease to someone else.

Its not just the person drinking the milk, its everyone that person comes into contact with. From there, how many work at a day care, live with someone who attends day care, is a food handler,,,,,,,.

 

[torpid]

A large number of cheeses use unpasteurized milk.

As long as the dairy farm is getting regular safety testing and following standards commensurate with raw milk production, it is likely as safe as a big box pasteurized milk brand since the standards for raw milk are more stringent and the farms tend to be more concerned with milk quality. Obviously this varies by the company, but many milk companies have way less oversight over their own milk quality than a small farm because they are getting a mix of milk from a wide variety of sources and monitor only basic indicators such as somatic cell count of the aggregated mixture.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

This has nothing to do with food safety and EVERYTHING to do with permit fees, inspection fees and, regulation power. Can't have our citizens bypassing the gubmints cut now can we?

 

[DaveSimmons]

But the FDA has been cracking down on raw milk a ton.

Mind if I send you a gift basket filled with tasty treats from Chinese street vendors?

Here in the USA, the Evil Gubment likes to stick its nose into the bidness of people selling food that might be tainted. On the whole (milk) I think that's a good thing.

If you prefer dirty cardboard, trash, rancid cooking oil, vermin, stray pets, lead, melamine and other flavorful additions to your food feel free to start importing it from less Big Brotherish sources.

 

[zinfamous]

Its one thing if the disease could not be spread.

Its another thing if someone drinks raw milk, gets sick, then spreads that disease to someone else.

Its not just the person drinking the milk, its everyone that person comes into contact with. From there, how many work at a day care, live with someone who attends day care, is a food handler,,,,,,,.

well, you can't spread a salmonella or listeria infection.

But the places where you can actually get raw milk--these customers are not the type to mistake the two if they prefer one over the other.

If it is an issue with the FDA cracking down on un-licensed distributors mixing their product into the licensed supply line, then fine. But if it's simply them strong-arming responsible producers and making it tough for them to get licensed, then that's a bunch of BS.

I love milk, but I don't care for Raw milk. Well, not sure I've had it, actually, but I don't really like whole milk. so for this, I'm not personally concerned about Raw milk--just the FDA getting in the way of real food products, yet again.

I do prefer unpasteurized cheese, though, and my wine to not be "fortified" with surplus sulfites, fuck you very much, FDA.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Mind if I send you a gift basket filled with tasty treats from Chinese street vendors?

Here in the USA, the Evil Gubment likes to stick its nose into the bidness of people selling food that might be tainted. On the whole (milk) I think that's a good thing.

If you prefer dirty cardboard, trash, rancid cooking oil, vermin, stray pets, lead, melamine and other flavorful additions to your food feel free to start importing it from less Big Brotherish sources.

Food is inherently healthy. else we would have died off long ago. The problem with food regulation and milk in particular is that the gubmint still lists milk as a protected and subsidized commodity. In other words, there is no market value for milk. These regulations do not insure quality as much as they insure there is government to regulate it. Those folks worried about Salmonella, E. coli, and Listeria can draw a deep breathe because milk that tests above the regulated levels is not fit for pasteurization either. In other words, there currently is NO value to pasteurization except for the inspections, fees and permits it requires.

 

[alkemyst]

But the FDA has been cracking down on raw milk a ton.

Because it attracts aliens.

 

[spidey07]

well, you can't spread a salmonella or listeria infection.

But the places where you can actually get raw milk--these customers are not the type to mistake the two if they prefer one over the other.

If it is an issue with the FDA cracking down on un-licensed distributors mixing their product into the licensed supply line, then fine. But if it's simply them strong-arming responsible producers and making it tough for them to get licensed, then that's a bunch of BS.

I love milk, but I don't care for Raw milk. Well, not sure I've had it, actually, but I don't really like whole milk. so for this, I'm not personally concerned about Raw milk--just the FDA getting in the way of real food products, yet again.

I do prefer unpasteurized cheese, though, and my wine to not be "fortified" with surplus sulfites, fuck you very much, FDA.

Wikipedia tells me that true french roquefort blue cheese MUST use unpasteurized milk. At least across the pond.

But there's seriously something wrong when the FDA won't allow people to cow share and take some of the "raw" milk for use. Now I don't know if that is a state or FDA or licensing thing, but it's still wrong.

 

[spidey07]

Food is inherently healthy. else we would have died off long ago. The problem with food regulation and milk in particular is that the gubmint still lists milk as a protected and subsidized commodity. In other words, there is no market value for milk. These regulations do not insure quality as much as they insure there is government to regulate it. Those folks worried about Salmonella, E. coli, and Listeria can draw a deep breathe because milk that tests above the regulated levels is not fit for pasteurization either. In other words, there currently is NO value to pasteurization except for the inspections, fees and permits it requires.

True. Dairy farmers are VERY serious about contamination and cleanliness and testing. If the let contaminated stuff get out, their business and livelyhood is likely ruined.

I even saw some cool automated milkers on discovery channel that tested the utters, tested the milk, cleaned the utters before and after milking and the entire milk delivery system was sealed. Pretty slick stuff.

 

[KeithTalent]

I thought the US has never allowed raw cheeses? Which is a real shame because unpasteurized cheese can be amazing.

Not sure I've had straight raw milk since those summers on my Grandparent's farm when I was a youth.

KT

 

[spidey07]

I thought the US has never allowed raw cheeses? Which is a real shame because unpasteurized cheese can be amazing.

Not sure I've had straight raw milk since those summers on my Grandparent's farm when I was a youth.

KT

Honestly, is there a taste difference? That's what I'm trying to understand because many things I've read say for cheese, absolutely. Something about the enzymes that aren't broken down, etc do good things for the cheese.

I summon The Pizza to answer these questions. Pizza! Pizza! GoatMilkPizza!