Tonight at the Board of Health Meeting
Eastleigh Farm, Doug Stephan wants to sell raw milk at his farm. More than 20 states outlaw the sale of raw milk. While Massachusetts allows raw milk to be sold at farms under regulations that are tougher than pasteurized milk standards, some communities, like Acton, choose to ban the product outright.
While raw milk advocates say it can help everything from asthma to arthritis to tuberculosis, "the other school says raw milk has the potential to spread some very nasty diseases, and that it would be very difficult to screen those diseases," said Framingham Board of Health Chairman Mike Hugo.
Hugo says he is going into Tuesday's meeting, "with a completely open mind."
The Board of Health could do nothing and let the state regulations apply, implement town specific regulations or ban the sale of raw milk outright.
As a child, the only milk we had was that of the dairy up the street from us and I drank raw milk till I was 10 or 11. My farther of coarse opened the bottles first, for his coffee creamer and as far as I rember, none of us kids, were ever sickened by the milk.
Lets see if Mr Huge O and company rely on scientific fact and not personal mis informed biases to determine the outcome for Mr. Stephan.
posted by Jim Pillsbury @ 12:06 PM
7 Comments
7 Comments:
I don't know exatly what the differences is, but I can say this, why does Framingham have the need to implement its own laws if the state already has regulations that cover this? Do we think we are smarter than the people who made the state regulations? What about Federal Regulations, what do they say? In these times, with town budgets so tight, we are we putting new laws into effect that we then have to make sure are being followed? Makes no sense to me. Leave it to the state regulations and be done with it.
Is this farm now selling milk that is not raw, and looking to change that? If so, I would be interested in what the motivation for the change is. And if not, is he just trying to get his milk on the market at less expense to him? In any case, it all boils down to what the people want to buy. If you don’t think raw milk is a good idea, then no one is forcing anyone to but it, you can be traditional milk. If there is no clear evidence that this is a danger to anyone, then why not leave it to the consumer to make their own choice about it?
Since when is anyone on the Framingham Board of Health an expert on milk? Better question, can they even explain in a clear, concise and knowlegable way what the difference is? If not, who gave them the power to rule on this?
Some years ago, the Legislature gave the local Board of Health's the authority to regulate the production of raw milk. The Feds only get involved when the milk crosses state lines.
The State regulations are heavy and very clearly understood by the common man. Some of the very same regulations for Grade A milk also apply to raw milk and farmers who sell retail must hold a Dairy Farm Certificate of Registration and must be compliant to Ma Department of Agricultural Resources testing and inspections. Plus... a vendors licence from a local milk inspector.
Plenty of regulations already in place. Let's see if they think it's not enough.
For years many in the health conscious community have raved about whole milks beneficial medical benefits, which seem to be undeniable. And I do believe that cooking all the possible problems out of the milk, does reduce many of the vitamins we need as humans to live healthier lives. A very long time ago, some people died from illnesses that originated in raw milk. SO... the feds jump in and the states followed with regulations designed to protect us. All but RI have allowed raw milk to be sold on the family farm. In RI, believe it or not, the only raw milk you can buy is goats milk, under a prescription from your doctor. Note.. no one has ever gotten a prescription for raw goats milk.
Last nights meeting was very well attended by supporters of the sale of raw milk on Mr. Stephans farm. We heard factual accounts of scientific testing that the farm has done on their milk and the chairman of the BOH, looks like he actually did his homework and came to the meeting with a ream of relevant information, included were the state regulations regarding the sale of raw milk, which he feels are not adequate.
The two opposing views came from highly educated people who regard raw milk sales, anywhere, to risky. I felt that they did not make a compelling case to ban the sale of raw milk here on the basis of risk. The word "libertarian" actually was mentioned by a few and even the chairman. Free to choose ones own food source was explained nicely by those who are already drinking raw milk.
The chairman seems to be hung on a disclaimer that Mr. Stephan has on his web site, like every other business entity in the entire country uses to protect the assets from zealot litigation.
Two of the board, who are very close to my age, have never drank raw milk, nor have any knowledge of the dairy process. Hard for me to figure how anyone could have missed that growing up in the 50's and 60's. A road trip to the farm is planned by the board very soon and it's my hope that they will see first hand how much of a commitment Mr. Stephan has made to insure his milk will be as safe as any other product we ingest.
The next meeting on this will be Dec 16th.
Thanks for the update on this. Will be looking for the final decision in December. Sounds like some good discussion went on at least
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