Free people should have a right to determine what they eat/drink and what they feed their families. Many people prefer raw milk for its nutritional value and it health-promoting properties, but are prevented from buying or selling it by laws where they live. The right to buy and sell raw dairy products should be protected at the federal level, as part of restoring citizens’ sovereignty over what they put in their bodies.
Proposed Policy #1 has the most substance in it including detail features of the policy, although it stops short of requiring raw milk/dairy sales be protected universally and just moves the responsibility to the state. Controlling what we choose to eat is fundamental to individual freedom, and should be protected at all levels.
Proposed Policy #2 has the essential expectation for free excercise of personal choice and I think this is critical at the federal level.
Raw Milk and Raw Milk products should be allowed to be bought and sold between two consenting parties.
Proposed Policy #3 has some additional details regarding removal of restrictions and sales in stores, rather than limiting it to person-to-person.
These proposals might be merged with other food-choice and food-production policy proposals, however I didn’t include those because raw dairy is specially regulated under lobbying by the American Dairy Association. Their lobbying bias promotes regulation that favors factory-farms and industrial aggriculture, and imposes excessive and unnecessary regulatory burdens on small, independent, and local producers.
Some of the differences between dairy and other food production include the impact of high-volume production. Factors that are especially significant for raw dairy include:
Industrial-level dairy production may not be suitable for safe raw milk handling.
Small farms CAN safely handle raw milk.
Handling, production, and storage methods for small producers and industrial producers do not overlap, and risks are not the same for both environments.
Small farms should not be subject to the same restrictions/regulations as industrial production.
Local or State entities that outlaw sales of raw milk and dairy products infringe our freedom to choose the best way to feed and care for ourselves and our families.
Merging these 3 proposals will collect the various impacts of protecting raw milk sales.
I agree as well, and see several others coming in as well. How can we add them to this proposal? Can we do it asap? This is a super important issue, but having many proposals all getting 0 or 1 votes, is going to bury the idea really soon.
Title:Mammalian Raw Milk Deregulation and Safety Assurance Amendment
Purpose:
To modernize the regulation of raw milk, recognizing improvements in dairy farming practices since the 1920s, and to ensure consumer access to raw milk with minimal restrictions while maintaining public health standards.
Policy Provisions:
USDA Approval for Raw Milk:
Streamlined Approval Process:
The USDA, in collaboration with the FDA, will establish a more efficient and timely approval process for raw milk from mammals, focusing on farm inspection, milk quality, and herd health rather than blanket prohibition.
Approval shall be granted within 30 days of application if the farm meets specified hygiene, animal health, and milk quality criteria.
Criteria for Raw Milk Sales:
Hygiene and Safety:
Farms must demonstrate compliance with strict hygiene standards, including regular testing for pathogens, proper animal health management, and clean milking practices.
Milk must be quick tested using test kits for common pathogens like Salmonella, E. coli, Listeria, and Campylobacter before it can be sold.
Labeling:
Raw milk products must be clearly labeled as “Raw” or “Unpasteurized,” with information on potential health risks and handling instructions.
Labeling shall also address whether antibiotics or other medications or hormones are injected into the mammals prior to milk collection. And that the quick tests for common pathogens were admitted interred and passed.
Education and Consent:
Consumers must be educated about the benefits and risks of raw milk through public health campaigns.
Minimizing Restrictions:
Intrastate Sales: States can regulate intrastate sales but must provide a pathway for farms to sell raw milk if they meet the federal guidelines for safety and quality.
Interstate Commerce: The ban on interstate raw milk sales shall be lifted for products which have earned a USDA certification for raw milk quality and safety, ensuring only the highest quality raw milk crosses state lines.
Monitoring and Enforcement:
Regular Inspections: Farms producing raw milk will undergo regular, unannounced inspections by USDA or its designated state partners. These random inspections shall not occur more frequently than every 180 days as long as no safety issues were identified in an inspection. If more than three random inspections are scheduled without cause the government shall give a tax credit for all costs of merchandise delayed for sale due to bureaucratic interference.
Penalties for Non-Compliance: Financial penalties or suspension of raw milk sales certification for farms that fail to meet safety standards.
Public Health Considerations:
Outbreak Response: A rapid response protocol for any outbreaks linked to raw milk, involving immediate product recalls, farm investigations, and public health advisories.
Consumer Protection: Continuous education on the safe handling and consumption of raw milk to minimize health risks.
Challenges and Considerations:
Public Health: Ensuring the health benefits of deregulation don’t lead to significant increases in foodborne illnesses, or require overly intrusive monitoring or consumer education.
Farm Compliance: Small farms might struggle with the costs associated with meeting new standards, necessitating potential support or grant programs.
Legal and Regulatory: Adjusting existing laws to accommodate this change while ensuring compatibility with other food safety regulations.
Evaluation:
Ongoing assessment of the health outcomes related to raw milk consumption, with the potential for re-regulation if public health is compromised.