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Recently, I have expressed
my concerns over demands by the Department of Agriculture, Trade and
Consumer Protection (DATCP) and their effort to elicit evidence regarding
raw milk sales in the form of a “request for interrogatories and demand for
production of documents” from the farm of Wayne and Janet Brunner of
Waterville Township in rural Pepin County. Pepin County Sheriff John Andrews
joined me in expressing concern with DATCP’s actions and we are proud to
publicly support honest family farmers and small business owners such as the
Brunner’s. In the interest of full disclosure, I am the author of
legislation (AB 628) to legalize on the farm site Raw Milk sales. My heart
goes out to the Brunner’s and other dairy farmers who have had to deal with
unusually low milk prices and difficult economic conditions.
The sale of Raw Milk for consumption is currently illegal. I understand that
it is DATCP’s job to enforce the law. As a former police officer, I
understand that while enforcement of the law is necessary, it is also
important to exercise the discretion that is granted to all enforcement
agencies when choosing how to enforce laws and regulations. The recent
request for interrogatories placed upon the Brunner Farm was clearly not
necessary. The Brunner’s had all ready informed DATCP that they were not
engaged in the sale of Raw Milk. There was no need to pursue this matter in
the way that DATCP did. I also want to point out that I would not encourage
anyone to break the law. Rather, I am asking interested parties to join me
in working for a solution.
My bill (AB 628) in support of on the farm site Raw Milk sales sets up
guidelines to oversee the sanitary handling and storage of this product.
Recently, a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) study showed that Raw Milk
(per serving) was safer for consumption than that of lunch meat (per
serving). Interestingly enough, we don’t see overzealous regulators
clamoring for the illegalization and criminalization of lunch meat sale in
the stores.
Raw Milk sales are legal in New York, California and in many other states
with large dairy industries. In California, the law goes much further than
what I am proposing and allows for the in store sale of Raw Milk. Yet, in
none of these places where Raw Milk sales is legal, have there been reports
of a public heath crisis nor has there been any notice of a decline in the
traditional dairy industry due to Raw Milk sales. Nevertheless, we
consistently hear overzealous special interests attempt to manufacture a
crisis and scare the public surrounding the sale of Raw Milk.
If farmers are able to produce a product that the free market demands, why
not allow them to sell this product to informed consumers on their farms
with the proper sanitary handling and storage regulations? Those who are
concerned with the safety of Raw Milk could choose to not consume this
product. After all, the government allows the sale of raw eggs, raw beef and
raw poultry. This is not to mention that we allow for the sale of such
frowned-upon products as liquor, cigarettes and tobacco. Why should the sale
of raw milk be treated any differently?
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