Here in the great state of Connecticut (third smallest in the union), raw milk is currently legal. We can even buy it in retail stores that choose to carry it. Interestingly, those that choose to tend to be natural foods stores. Lately, there’s been some action to review and change the availability of raw milk in the state.
I first learned of it in New Morning, when I saw a sticker on my gallon asking me to sign the petition (which I did). There’s additional information at the Choose Raw Milk Web site.
The CT Department of Agriculture is sponsoring a bill to be presented to the legislature in 2009 which would ban the sale of raw milk in retail stores in CT and/or require extensive additional milk testing at the licensed producers’ expense.
An Act Concerning Raw Milk is now bill number 6313. An Act Concerning the Sale of Adulterated Milk and Milk Products is now bill number 6312. (Ironic that the milk that hasn’t been nuked is called adulterated.)
More information with background is available at the Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund Web site, including contact information for statewide elected officials.
What you can do:
- contact your representatives
- attend and/or speak at the hearing (see the Choose Raw Milk Web site).
It sounds like what they’re proposing is the same as the current law here in Massachusetts – you can only get your raw milk directly from the farmer, at the farm. It’s an awful system for those of us who live in urban areas and make conscious car-minimal lifestyle choices. I have a link to an article about it at http://vegyear.wordpress.com/articles-in-the-boston-globe/
The thinking seems to be that if customers see the cows and barns with their own eyes then sanitary conditions will be better maintained. There’s some truth to that. I’d love to see that applied to all food sources… at the moment, processed peanuts come to mind!
I heard about that. While I don’t drink raw milk, I think those who want to should be able to, if it is fresh and from a farmer who keeps the time from cow to glass very short. My parents grew up drinking raw milk (not in the USA), and the pasturization became necessary only when milk went commercial, not from the cow next door into the glass within a matter of minutes.
I don’t think there is anything wrong with raw per se, but sadly if its bought in the store I think there might be a greater risk than the consumer realizes. At least the law (from what I understand) still allows purchase at the farm itself.
I really don’t see what the big deal with it being at the store is. It’s not like they are forcing people to buy it simply for shopping there. The fact is, they can’t keep it on the shelves! The stuff sells out almost instantly.
And I am really tired of this same phrase in every article about raw milk: “it’s like playing Russian roulette with your health.” Living is like playing Russian roulette. Every day, you get up, you take your chances and that’s life.
As if faux government oversight was going to guarantee healthy food. In the last year, I’ve been eating foods from local farmers (even some prepared items with a label saying “not made in a certified kitchen”), and I have had one of the healthiest, unscariest food years of my life. I didn’t have to worry about my beef, tomatoes, jalapenos or milk. (I don’t eat peanuts; they’re not local and not compelling enough for me to call Marco Polo for them.)
I live too far from the farm to make getting it there practical so I’m okay with the one degree of separation for the convenience of getting it at the store. I wish I had enough land for a cow of my own!